Festival of Nations, May 2018

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Festival of Nations May 3-6th. It was a wonderful celebration of culture and music from around the world. I was pleased to give more than 10 performances over the four days of the festival, and enjoyed meeting the other musicians performing pieces from Ireland, Laos, Bulgaria, and many other countries.

Some of the younger audience members really got into the performance.

Performing on the Rwandan Inanga at the Festival of Nations, 2018.

Nyttu Chongo performing on the Rwandan Inanga at the Twin Cities Festival of Nations, 2018.

Nyttu Chongo performing a piece on the Inanga on the main stage at the Festival of Nations, 2018 in the Saint Paul River Centre.

On May 3rd, I brought my Timbila for the day and performed several marrabenta pieces. May 4-6th, I stuck to the Inanga, Mbira Nyunga Nyunga, and Mbira Dzava Dzira for a more calming, melodic effect. The Inanga was originally an instrument for the king, with the musician playing lullabies in private to help him drift off to sleep. The plucked harp carried nicely through the crowds of people shopping, eating, and visiting.