Support Traditional African music and the artists who play it !!!

"This is a very credible cause. Please consider."

Dear friends,

One of my siblings just sent me the e-mail below. This is a very credible cause. Please consider.

One Love, One Heart, One Spirit,
G. Djata Bumpus
*******************************************************
Subject: 2009 Guide to Gifts Saving Zimbabwean Musicians' Lives

With 100 children dying EVERY DAY in Zimbabwe, there is not only a humanitarian catastrophe, but also a real danger that, in the struggle to survive, traditional music will not be passed on to the next generation.

Every year at this time, MBIRA suggests gifts that you can order from our non-profit organization, that help to support over 150 Zimbabwean traditional musicians (at the bottom of the economic ladder there), and their large extended families, including the children that hopefully will survive to be the musicians of tomorrow.

If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation, go to http://www.mbira.org/ and click on the DONATE button, or send a check or money order made out to MBIRA to PO Box 7863,Berkeley, CA 94707-0863, USA.

MBIRA's non-profit sales of traditional music CDs played by over 150 musicians from all over Zimbabwe, and mbiras by 16 Zimbabwean instrument makers, are estimated to help support more than 2000 men, women and children in Zimbabwe...AND are helping to preserve respect for traditional culture and music.

You can make a difference, and enjoy great music, too! When you buy a CD from MBIRA, the musicians on it get a minimum of 12 times more money than if you buy a CD in almost any other physical or online store. Please consider giving great gifts this year, that support Zimbabwean musicians.

Here are our gift suggestions, and thank you for helping us to support Zimbabwean musicians!:

1. "First Mbira Lessons" DVD with video lessons, audio play-along tracks,graphics and text for the new mbira player. Also available with an mbira -http://www.mbira.org/catalog.asp?cat=dvds

2. Give MBIRA CDs - when we sell even one, it may feed a rural musician'sfamily for 2 weeks. Proceeds go to the musician(s) on the CD.*** A list of CDs on which some or all of the musicians earned less than $100 this year is at the end of this email - ordering these is especially helpful, and they are ALL great recordings, sometimes just have too many people on them for each one to earn much. Try one!

If a CD on the list is one of your favorites already, give a copy to a friend. Consult our gift guide at http://www.mbira.org/catalog.asp?cat=favorites
Or browse all the CDs and make your own selections after listening to audiosamples at http://www.mbira.org/catalog.asp?cat=cds To just look at new releases, go to http://www.mbira.org/catalog.asp?cat=new

3. BOOK/CD "Shona Lessons for Mbira Students" by Patience Chaitezvi athttp://www.mbira.org/catalog.asp?cat=books

4. Make a tax-deductible DONATION in someone's name...even a small donation can make a big difference in Zimbabwe. 100% of donations received between now and December 31st will go to the Zimbabwe Musicians Fund (100% of your donation goes to Zimbabwean traditional musicians we have recorded who earned less than $100 this year, including some great musicians we have recorded, but haven't had time to finish making their CDs). Go tohttp://www.mbira.org and click on the DONATE button at the top of the page

5. Mbira player EBONY SCULPTURES by very talented village mbira player andartist, Fradreck Manjengwa. We have both female and male solo mbira players in stock. To order, go to http://www.mbira.org/catalog.asp?cat=sculpture

6. Copper and brass BANGLES, THUMB PICKS for mbira players, also bubble padded-ziplock BAGS for mbira travel and storage at http://www.mbira.org/catalog.asp?cat=mbira-accessories (scroll down)

7. Give an MBIRA T-SHIRT - short-sleeved t-shirts, babydoll tees, and hooded SWEATSHIRTs too. Sizes and colors currently available are listed at http://www.mbira.org/catalog.asp?cat=shirts and ALSO note what color(s) and size(s) you want on your order, please.

8. Give an mbira WORKSHOP (or part payment of one) to a new or continuingmbira student. For example, weekend workshops in various locations, or an 8-day Mbira Camp. For dates and cost of workshops, seehttp://www.mbira.org/events.html In the San Francisco Bay Area, give the gift of mbira lessons, too. Just send a check to MBIRA with details, and wewill send a gift certificate (include name of the recipient and address tosend it to).

9. Mbira INSTRUMENTS - Browse what we have in stock at http://www.mbira.org/catalog.asp?cat=mbiras and we are are expecting MORE mbiras and dezes to arrive about December 1st, so check back if what youwant is out of stock.ORDER ONLINE: Order with a credit card or PayPal account online athttp://www.mbira.org, and we will ship your CDs by first class mail (Priority Mail if order is for 4 or more within the US, and all mbiras go byPriority Mail within the US) the next business day.

ORDER BY PHONE: You may order by phone between 9 am and 7 pm PST (West CoastUS time) by calling 510-548-6053.ORDER BY MAIL: You may also order with a check or money order by mail, and we will ship when we receive it ***please include an order form printed from the website, and include the proper amount for shipping, and tax if you arein California.

ORDER A GIFT: Please send us an additional email if you wish the gift shipped to an address other than your own, as PayPal will not always tell us this when you order online!

BUY IN PERSON: Those who live in the San Francisco Bay Area may also come to Berkeley to make purchases in person at MBIRA house or at the Musicians Fund benefit mbira concert Sat. Dec. 12 at 8 pm , email: erica@mbira.org for directions to either.----------*CDs of Zimbabwean Musicians Who Earned Less Than $50 Each This Year*Solo Nyamaropa Tuning:3406 Alois Mutinhiri (w/hosho)3411 Golden Nhamo 3427 Goliath Rambakudzibwa 3451 Herbert Matema & Kajawu Chingodza (vocals) Duet Nyamaropa Tuning:3409 Vitalis Botsa & Fabian Rujuwa3429 Munwanenzewe & Chasi3452 Kadungure & Mutizwa (2 x dongonda) 3453 Muchapondwa & ChikupoGroup Nyamaropa Tuning: 3404 Muchumi/Hoto/Magaya 3410 Jekanyika Mbira Group 3423 Dzapasi Mbira Group 3424 Mhondoro Mbira Group 3425 Rushanga Mbira Group 3428 Sungano Mbira Group3438 Mhuri yekwaRwizi – The Next Generation3440 Dendera Resango Mbira Group3441 Mhuri yekwaManomano3442 Rwizi Mutoro Mbira Group 3444 Munongedzo Mbira 3449 Mandarendare Mbira Group – Nyamaropa & Dongonda Tunings 3471 Muzanenhamo Mbira GroupGandanga/Mavembe Tuning: 3413 Courage Njenge3420 Murawo Tembedza & Langton Bapiro Dambatsoko Tuning: 3208 Elder Mujuru Mbira Players 1996 3339 Stanley, Norman, Sam and Munyaradzi Mujuru 3439 Dambatsoko Mbira Group 3445 Fradreck & Nyarai ManjengwaOther Tunings & Instruments:3453 Newton Gwara & Chaka Marimba 3265 Rinos Simboti Mukuwurirwa & Tiri Chiongotere – Saungweme TuningCompilations & Intensives: 1100 Vashauri Vol. 1 Great Mbira Singers 3903 Nyama musango – Nyamaropa Tuning3914 Bangidza3911 Shumba yangwasha3928 Nyama musango – Gandanga/Mavembe tuning 3941 Shanje *CDs of Zimbabwean Musicians Who Earned Less Than $100 Each This Year*Solo Nyamaropa Tuning: 3307 Boniface Mutandwa3422 Friday Chamunorwa 3426 Ephraim Musekiwa3432 Daniel Taveshure 3437 Tavengwa Chikupo3442 Albert ZinhumweDuet Nyamaropa Tuning: 3268 Luken Pasipamire & Chris Mhlanga 3455 Gift Mzarabani & Ignatius MutandwaGroup Nyamaropa Tuning: 3015 Mhuri yekwaMuchena 1991Gandanga/Mavembe Tuning: 3062 Ephat Mujuru 19863144 Healing Tape on CD 3433 Madziva & SanyikaDambatsoko Tuning:3454 Nicholas Jemwa & Fungai MujuruOther Tunings & Instruments: 3435 Dzongodza TaonezviNote: at least one musician on each CD earned less than the amount indicated Thanks for your support for Zimbabwean musicians!Happy holidays to all! Erica********************************
Erica Azim MBIRA: the non-profit organization devoted to Shona mbira music of Zimbabwehttp://www.mbira.orgphone (510) 548-6053; fax (510) 548-2454 P.O. Box 7863, Berkeley, CA 94707-0863, USA email: erica@mbira.org