Instrument building and repair workshop: Deadline extended

The deadline has been extended to Friday 21st October 2016. We are also pleased to announce our renowned instrument-making trainers, Christian Carver (marimba), Luigi Marucchi (guitar), and the duo of Mpho Molikeng and Bavikile ‘MaBhengu’ Ngema for the umakhweyana. See below for more details on these experts and the workshop contents.

Each participant will take home the instrument they make under the guidance of our facilitators. Participants from all nine provinces of South Africa, as well as other parts of the continent, are encouraged to apply. MIAF will cover expenses related to participants’ travel, accommodation and workshop materials.

The workshop will be held at the Alpha Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 20 to 26 November and will culminate in a concert at the Wits Theatre on 25 November 2016, where some participants will collaborate with  South Africa’s best traditional instrumentalists, including the world-renowned Dizu Plaatjies.

One of the main objectives of this initiative is to encourage the formalization and professionalization of instrument making and repair in Africa, especially in relation to indigenous instruments. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit and learn from established music instrument making companies in Johannesburg as part of the training. Certificates of participation will be given at the end of the workshop.

Who can apply

The workshop is open to persons from these countries/regions:

• South Africa (22 trainees will be accepted from all provinces)
• East Africa (1 trainee will be selected)
• West Africa (1 trainee will be selected)
• Central Africa (1 trainee will be selected)

Preference will be given to candidates who already have basic knowledge of instruments, instrument building or repair. Participants will be required to attend all sessions.

How to enter

To be considered, send your application to projects@musicinafrica.net before or on 21 October 2016.

Note: your application should include the following:

• Short motivation – why is it important for you to be trained, how will this benefit you and other people?
• Indicate which instrument you want to learn (between the guitar group or the marimba and umakhweyana group).
• 1-page CV
• Proof of involvement in, or knowledge of, instrument building (formal or informal) will be an advantage. Pictures will be accepted.

Travel expenses

Participants from outside Johannesburg will be offered free accommodation and travel, as well as a per diem. 

The experts

Marimba Making Trainer

Christian Carver is a cultural preservationist, a tool maker, a visionary and more importantly a renowned instrument maker. He is the director of the African Musical Instruments (AMI), based in Grahamstown, South Africa. The company is known for making high-quality kalimbas and marimbas, which are distributed worldwide. “Christian’s eagerness and passion to teach and share this fine craft with aspirant instrument makers at MIAF’s Instrument Building and Repair workshop is refreshing and inspiring and we are really looking forward to the experience,” says Eddie Hatitye, Director of MIAF.

Guitar Making Trainer

Luigi Marucchi is a master guitar craftsman and luthier extraordinaire, who is based in Cape Town. He encapsulates the essence of the workshops in this observation about a visit to Cremona in Italy. “Cremona in Italy was a source of inspiration,” says Luigi. “There are 150 registered instrument makers making a living in this tiny town. The quality of the instruments is astounding. I just kept thinking that I want to do this full-time and not just as a hobby.” This resonates very strongly with one of Music In Africa’s main objectives for this workshop, which is to encourage, promote and support instrument making as a viable career opportunity.

Umakhweyana Training Team

Bavikile ‘MaBhengu’ Ngema was born in 1951 in the Nkandla district of KwaZulu-Natal. A prolific composer and virtuoso player on umakhweyana and umqangala (umbheleza) Nguni musical bows, she also performs on harmonica and indigenous harp. Bavikile learnt to play these instruments by watching and imitating her sisters and cousins. Her unique umakhweyana playing technique elicits a fourth fundamental note from the single-stringed instrument. She has over the years perfected the art and science of umakhweyana making. She’s able to uproot the pros and cons of which materials to use for the required sound and occasion of her instrument. Being a custodian of umakhweyana, she has also been a scholars’ subject of research over the years.

Mpho Molikeng, a Lesotho born multi-faceted artist: indigenous instrument maker, curator, actor, musician, poet, painter, storyteller and cultural activist/entrepreneur, will join MaBhengu’s instrument trainers team to deliver an authentic sharing of skills that has been passed down from generation to generation in rural KwaZulu-Natal – a rare occasion which Music In Africa is honoured to offer to its participants and stakeholders.