Stephen Chadenga
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe music director and founder and executive director of the Midlands Marimba Arts Festival , Tinomutenda Chihora has capped his arts, musical and cultural journey after graduating at the Midlands State University with a Master of Science degree in Music -Applied Ethnomusicology.
For the Gweru based music teacher and cultural activist, the achievement signals the merging of academic research and community practice in the preservation of Zimbabwe’s indigenous music.
According to Chihora applied ethnomusicology is the study of people’s music in its culture and using it to teach, heal, preserve and build communities.
Chihora, who holds many different portfolios such as Midlands Marimba Arts Festival director, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) music director, Kwekwe Sport Arts and Culture Festival composer and trainer, Mkoba Teachers College music lecturer, Schools VPA Grade 7 exam coach, Transcriber, Adjudicator for choral music, traditional dance and electrical bands as well as Music Consultancy Society vice director for education said the degree has links to his life work in many ways.
“As the Midlands Marimba Arts director the degree links heritage, performance and youth development, as ELCZ music director it links music spirituality and community while as Kwekwe Sport Arts and Culture Festival composer and trainer it links applied, culture and innovation,”Chihora said.
“In my current job as Mkoba Teachers College music lecturer the qualification connects education preservation as applied ethnomusicology teaches us how to pass on musical knowledge while as VPA the link is heritage in education, that is to say my research focuses on making sure children know their music heritage.”
He said as a transcriber the new achievement links documentation and preservation, as an adjudicator evaluation standard and cultural authenticity while as a music consultancy, the coarse connects leadership, policy and community development.
Chihora said he is a cultural guardian, educator, composer, director, transcriber, adjudicator and community builder, all combined in one.
“People often ask what applied ethnomusicology is. My answer is, it is what l do everyday, in church with ELCZ, on stage at Kwekwe festival, leading Marimba Arts, in class at Mkoba Teachers College, in schools coaching Grade 7 VPA, transcribing our songs, adjudicating choirs, dance and bands as well as guiding education policy,”he said.
The music expert said his Masters degree is about making sure “our music lives on, teaches and builds us.