WORLD MUSIC FEST 2026 | APRIL 26, 2026
THE MBIRA RENAISSANCE BAND
Our first World Music Fest was held on April 26, 2026. We had the honor of collaborating with and hosting The Mbira Renaissance Band from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The performance was entertaining, moving and educational. Frontman Chaka Zinyemba, welcomed the audience into the music by sharing stories of his childhood in Zimbabwe, the history and the importance of the mbira instrument to the Shona people, his people. Chiedza Zinyemba (hosho, conga, vocals) fascinated the crowd with her harmonies and her explanation of the hosho and its ancestral role in Zimbabwean music. On guitar, Geo Koufogiannakis shared his infectious energy through soulful, driving solos. James Stuart was unwavering in his bass guitar, expertly blending a Western rock instrument with the Mbira and hosho sounds. And of course, Tony Flanagan on drums manages to be both solid and creative at the same time.
Toni Cortez-Aguilar (contrabass flute), Everardo Aguilar (trumpet) and Valerie McElroy (flute), the events collective, joined the band on a few songs, adding unique tone colors and dynamic solos. A highlight of the event was the world premiere of Shiri Yakanaka (beautiful bird). “It’s a beautiful piece that brings the mbira and flutes together in a unique, one of a kind way - adding wonderful contrast, texture and breath to the bands sound. In this song, the singer courts a bird returning to the community during the spring, asking it to stay in return for a song (you hear this courtship through the interplay between the vocals and the flutes). It’s a song about the human desire for companionship and interconnectedness beyond the artificial boundaries we have placed between one another.” (Chaka Zinyemba, https://substack.com/home/post/p-196244516)
Two weeks later and we are still in the afterglow of this magical evening. It was a labor of love, 6 years in the making. Back in 2020, in the early days of pandemic isolation, Connessa Collective co-founder, Valerie McElroy, wanted to create a way for us to explore global music together. To listen, learn and participate meaningfully with music from around the world. That year, Valerie hosted a virtual recital with her studio students. Each student was assigned a region of the world. They researched the history, culture, stories and music. The students then performed a musical work by a composer from that region.
As we explored how to bring this virtual experience to life, we wanted to ensure that the music we shared was presented with cultural humility by those with cultural and musical roots in that tradition. Chiedza, Chaka, Tony, Geo and James embody cultural and musical collaboration. Their backgrounds and ancestral lines are varied and broad, but what they create together is a celebration of music and community. Working with Mbira Renaissance was a joy and a privilege. From the groups professionalism to their camaraderie, musicality and genuine humanity, we left the weekend with souls full of hope that music truly can build bridges and connect us all.
May 13, 2026
