Span Arts will be holding a special 20th anniversary event at the Queen's Hall, Narberth, today (Friday), when they invite current Span Arts members, and all supporters to an evening featuring a variety of music, including Zimbabwean band Chimanimani (pictured). To have kept a community arts organisation going for 20 years is a major acheivement for a small, mainly voluntary organisation in West Wales, and is a tribute to the community that has supported their work. Best known for their performances at the Queen's Hall, Span Arts continue to run a workshop programme for children, adults and those with learning difficulties. This year, they brought extra colour to Narberth carnival with an African theatre group and will be running lantern workshops for the winter carnival next month. They are currently working on a new tiled mural for the Queen's Hall, running singing workshops and planning for the future. Formed in Harare in 1995, Chimanimani is the name of Zimbabwe's sacred mountain along which winds a path so narrow, that in places it's necessary to make a 'chimanimani' (walk sideways). But no- one wants to walk to the band's music! Chimanimani embodies everything expected from a vibrant African dance band. Expect up-beat and infectious rhythms, jangling guitar melodies and haunting vocals , a place where funky bass riffs fly. Chimanimani are a dance band in the traditions of the wonderful Four Brothers and The Bhundu Boys. A blend of traditional and modern styles, their music fills the heart and gets the body moving, while reaching out and touching and uniting everyone in a common celebration of life. Well- known on the festival circuit, this vibrant group have performed at festivals and venues across the UK including Glastonbury , Larmer Tree Festival, Respect Festival, Eden Complex, Marlborough Jazz Festival and the Africa Centre, Covent Garden. They have performed here together with many top Zimbabwean artists including Stella Chiweshe and Anna Mudeka. Fronted by Chanda Nyerazani- drums and vocals (Zimbabwe) and Simwinji Zeko on guitars and vocals (Zambia), Chimanimani sing of life in the Zimbabawe of today, a land struggling against all odds to come out of poverty. Their very danceable music gained a tremendous reception at the Smal Nations festival in the summer, and they have added another female singer to the group since that event, to great effect. The evening will be complimented by two local world music DJs Shan and Eugene plus a light buffet. Tickets are available to the public priced £15 which includes a year's membership of Span Arts and is a chance to support this vibrant cultural group that adds to the life of the county. Call (01834) 869323 to book tickets.
