Mathew Tembo at JustGoods May 2, 2014

0

Friday, May 2, JustGoods Listening Room will host a true “world musician.”

Mathew Tembo’s music fuses indigenous Zambian vibes with contemporary sounds to create a truly unique form. His latest album, Dadi Mwana, resounds in upbeat, Afro-fusion, reggae-fueled tracks featuring lyrics in various languages skillfully married with music performed on handmade instruments — the silimba (local marimba), kalumbu (one-stringed instrument) and kalimba (thumb piano).

Tembo is a trailblazer, going against the musical status quo in Zambia of computerized pop. He has shared a stage with world music stars 3Ma and Oliver Mtukudzi, and has collaborated with Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, the guitar-playing freedom-fighting first president of Zambia.

Outside of Zambia, he has played in Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Holland, Denmark, Germany and the USA. When he’s not performing, Tembo enjoys studying, building instruments, teaching, producing music in his home studio, or learning to play new indigenous instruments. He also hosts an annual music festival in Lusaka, Zambia, called “Sing Our Own Song,” geared at promoting indigenous music.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. Seating is limited. There is no admission charge, but attendees will have an opportunity to make donations directly to Tembo and to buy his CDs.

From the April 30-May 6, 2014, issue

NO COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY