Shamwari came about in the Homer marimba community that brought African marimba music to Alaska. Shamwari started in 2002 after a group of friends took a marimba workshop from musician Michael Breez, then of Seattle. “Shamwari” means “friends” in the Shona language of Zimbabwe. Their music has its roots in the Zimbabwean music tradition brought to North America by Dumisane “Dumi” Maraire and also includes music from South Africa and other African nations. Shamwari has expanded its repertoire in recent years to include some music from beyond Africa, thanks to a variety of teachers and composers. A synthesis of western music and African polyrhythmic beats, Zimbabwean music resonates in the soul. It’s primal, energetic music, and also great to dance to.

Similar to the western concert marimba, African marimbas have tuned, wooden keys that are played with mallets. The Shamwari ensemble consists of soprano, tenor, baritone and bass marimbas as well as drums and hoshos, an African gourd shaker similar to a maraca. Polyrhythms emerge when musicians play different notes and pulses that interlock with other instruments.

Shamwari has learned all its pieces in the traditional African oral method and performs with no sheet music and totally from memory. Its founding members of Jenny Stroyeck, Jim Levine, Julia Clymer, and Michael Armstrong now include Clymer’s husband and lead vocalist, Karl Stoltzfus, Greg Fries, Janette Latimer, and Judy Dean and Jenny Rasche.  Shamwari honors the memory of former members Stephanie Lieb Migdal and Doug Epps.