Dear Lark and Kris,
I’m writing on behalf of the South Fraser Gogos (http:/www.stephenlewisfoundation.org) to thank you so much for your fantastic contribution to our Potluck Evening. You made the Grandmothers welcome quite spectacular and one I’m sure they’ll remember. Everyone enjoyed the rest of your music and singing and seeing everyone up dancing is a sight I’ll always remember.
Wishing you all the very best,
Jesse Pringle
Co-coordinator
Kuimba's...release (Salimu! Heshimu!) is a joy to experience. The CD is a masterpiece of harmonizing the ancient and the modern, soul and spirit, male and female. The melodic lines are elegant in their simplicity. The harmonies are like the spice in a finely cooked meal--just the right amount to enhance the flavor. The drumming is crisp, vibrant and transformative. The indigenous instruments produce a sound that helps soothe the heart. The Kingwana dialect of Swahili that the Bowermans sing lends itself beautifully to messages of hope, joy, and attunement with the Earth. There is an energy that comes through Salimu! Heshimu! It reminds us to sing, dance, laugh, love and honor the mystery and magnificence of Life.
. . . the syncopation on the kinubi and percussion instruments, and Lark's clear unaffected voice singing in Swahili establish a mood that is both fresh and new and so ancient that it touches the core of being.
Dear Lark,
I am incredibly moved by your music. You have a beautiful voice, and the rhythms are mesmerizing and wonderful! Than you so much for this gift. Please convey my deep appreciation to Kris, also.
Margot
Washington, USA
p.s. You are very appropriately called “Lark” – you sing like a bird. I’m enchanted!
Benicia Community Arts
P.0. Box 454
Benicia, CA 94510
707- 745- ARTS
June 12, 1995
Dear Kris and Lark,
Thank you so much for your participation at this year’s Festival of Arts in the Park in Benicia.
Consensus has it that this year’s event was the best of all our 15 years. Surely we have it in our memories as wrapped in gossamer, a truly special day.
We enclose a check and a copy of the program in which you are mentioned, also news clippings on the event (later).
We hope to be able to see you at another Arts in the Park. Thanks again for your presence this year.
Sincerely, (signed)
Bonnie Weidel, Chair
Festival of Arts in the Park, 1995, Benicia
p.s. We are still hearing what a fine way to star the day with Kuimba — you did fill the Park! Thanks, (signed)
B.
Mawingu…I Remember Africa by Kuimba
The creative partnership of Kris and Lark Bowerman is Kuimba. This new CD release of their 1990/91 cassette recording of Mawingu…I Remember Africa, draws its inspiration from Lark’s childhood and youth among the… tribes of Northeastern Zaire [the present day Democratic Republic of Congo – editor’s note].
Images of Africa… the people, plains mountains, clouds and creatures… blend together into a soulful audio-tapestry ranging from magnetic and joyful compositions like Hakuna Matata to mysterious folk-jazz moods like Majesty. The inclusion of personal, on-site recordings made by Lark and Kris of the Forest People [Wambuti] singing and talking at home adds another mythic layer to this multi-dimensional release.
Featured on the album are several kinubi (kee noo’ bee), small Zairian [Congolese] bow harps, that create beautiful plucked string sounds, as well as a “conventional” Celtic harp. This is an unusual and sensitively crafted concept album with equal elements of contemporary musical style and “far memory.”
International Folk Harp Journal
Summer 1994, Issue No. 84
There is the occasional music . . . that, like the true original in any field of endeavor, transcends both categories and the need for them and sets its own standards. Such is the music of Kuimba . . . It has a way of lifting away cares and awarness of external noises, soothing you to a place in the calm center within yourself where nothing remains but a deep sense of well-being. Lark’s voice . . . rings clear and pure as a chime. . . Kris’s tenor blends so well with her soprano that their vocal harmonies are like one voice sounding in two places.
African instruments sparkle within the flow of Kuimba's world beat contemporary sound. Creative, original blendings of instruments and voices provide a unique and richly satisfying musical opportunity. Combining ethnic music with contemporary sound could be tricky, but it is done successfully here, achieving a mood of depth and beauty.
We truly enjoyed the rarity of music brought to us by Kuimba. We feel fortunate to have been "transported" to Africa and back by this exciting duo.
• “The students and staff of Wayside School thoroughly enjoyed the assembly. It was not only informative and educational, but the student participation, beautiful singing and instrumentals made it quite engaging and entertaining. The students learned many things about Africa that they had not known before and eagerly joined in the songs they were taught. One of the meaningful messages presented was that many aspects of our world are universal. Although the songs were in a different language, the students were able to sing the words and follow along with the rhythm. We look forward to having Kuimba return to Wayside School!”
Diane Shoop, Counselor, Wayside Elementary School, Bakersfield, CA
• “The musical performance by Kuimba was sensational. The students were completely enthusiastic and entertained. The program was very educational about Africa and the music was very peaceful and energetic. Adults and teachers had a wonderful time. Thank you...” Kristi Figone, Teacher, Meadow Homes Elementary, Concord, CA
• “…your performance was happily received by all ages in our assembly. You reminded us that the world is a very large place, and that our way of life here in our corner of Washington is only one of innumerable ways of life. We loved your demonstrations of the different instruments and your explanations of the ways that they were made. We enjoyed the sound of your well-matched voices and the beautiful rhythmic accompaniments. I’d recomemnd your program to any schools looking for a quality performance of music of African origin, or for new ways to expand children’s awareness of cultural treasures and artistic variety.”
Sally Jones, Music Specialist, Issaquah School District, Washington
• “My class enjoyed your show. The instruments were the highlight! In our classroom they enjoyed learning about Africa.” Nancy Hayes, Teacher, Toro Park School, Salinas, CA
• “I highly recommend the musical performance of Lark and Kris Bowerman as a meaningful experience for school children of any age. My recommendation is…based on my experience as an educator. For twenty-five years I was the educational director of an Independent school, Treehaven School in Tucson, Arizona. I was also president of the Arizona Association of Independent Schools and the Tucson Chapter of the Association for Childhood Education. I have taught Sociology at Oregon State College. I believe that students of all ages would enjoy and benefit in many ways from joining in the presentation of Kuimba.” Florence Schneider, Ph. D., Ashland OR
• “The sing-alongs were fantastic! More, more, more! Hispanic children loved hearing syllables they could relate to. [The] pace was perfect for little ears. Instruments were beautiful, songs great.”
Maggie Haller, Bilingual Teacher, Meadow Homes Elementary, Concord, CA
• “I was very impressed with the authentic nature of this assembly. You included the audience in a very nice way — not getting them too excited! Thank you for taking time with our deaf children — that was very special for them.”
Brian Fox, Principal, Puyallup Schools, WA
• “Your program was informative and delightful. Come again!”
• “What a joy to see two people perform for children and enjoy what they do.”
• “We all really enjoyed the music and drums. The hand made musical instruments were very interesting and made wonderful music when you played them. We hope you can come back again. We are looking forward to that.”
Staff Members, Norwood School, El Monte, CA
• “Thanks for the wonderful assemblies given to our school. Both assemblies were motivational! They engaged students to be listeners as well as participants. Everyone loved it!”
Dolores Carlson, Principal, Weston Elementary, Ripon, CA
• “Our school thanks you for a wonderful performance last Friday. All of the students and teachers enjoyed it very much, and I continue to receive positive comments. It is so nice for the children to get a peek at other cultures. What you do is special and very important. We appreciate you coming to our school. Thank you again!”
Pam Minchin, Parent, PTA Assemblies Coordinator, Park Dale Lane School, Encinitas, CA
• “How very much we appreciated your presentation. The music with all the instruments helped the students to better understand another culture and brought us that much closer to the enjoyment of sharing in that culture. During one of your songs I could see in my imagination the golden sun setting and animals running across the plains of Africa. I didn’t want it to end. The students and teachers really liked the audience participation — it made it a lot of fun, as well as educational. Again, you did a fine job of sharing ‘another world’ with us — and helping us to taste of their life through music. Thank you… Karen Mutsch, Almaden Elementary, San Jose, CA
• “The students and staff highly enjoyed the performances. Student attention was kept because they had ample opportunities to participate (hand clap and sing). I heard only positive comments after the assemblies.”
Special Projects Teacher, York School, Hawthorne, CA
• “The …presentation actively involved my entire class in a thinking, meaning centered way that continues to radiate in my classroom …”
Cheryl Yoshimura-Thompson, 3rd Grade Teacher, Highlands Elementary, Concord, CA
• “The Kuimba program was excellent. It involved the audience with claps to rhythm patterns as well as chanting and singing. The instruments were explained very well to the students. The performers passion for what they were doing was very evident and we got “caught up” in the excitement! Thank you for coming to our school!”
Julie Bliss, Teacher, Old River School, Downey, CA
• “The students were engrossed the entire time and loved the participation. Appropriate for all ages.”
Rebecca Olness, Educational Assistant, Martin Sortun Elementary, Kent, WA
• “What a wonderful experience — the history, geography and sounds of another world. The children were captivated and enjoyed spontaneously clapping along! I look forward to your return to our school!”
Teacher, Pittsburg USD, CA
• “What a wonderful opportunity for our children! The African Rhythm and Singing provided a chance for our children to experience diversity, yet seeing such similarities across cultures. The music and rhythm were contagious! One of my children commented on how people who live so far away enjoy the same thing: beat! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your positive insight into a culture so different from ours. Exposure like this for children can only help in our quest of raising people who see diversity as positive and embrace it!”
Third Grade Teacher, Sherwood Forest Elementary, Federal Way, WA
• “The study guide helped to educate me (the teacher) about your program…”
Karen McKenzie, Teacher, Toro Park School, Salinas, CA
• “We enjoyed the program very much. my first graders were as enthralled as I was. I especially enjoyed learning about the different instruments. For the younger kids, they especially liked the story-telling. I always like to hear the African stories with the different instruments. Thank you very much for coming to our school.”
Susan Brown, First Grade Teacher, Zeiger Elementary, Puyallup, WA
• “My class really enjoyed your program. It was lively and the exposure of the handmade instruments captured my students’ interest. We had been studying Africa…and some of what you introduced was very pertinent to their learning.” Nancy Hicks, Teacher, Meadow Homes Elementary, Concord, CA
• “Songs were appropriate and easy to sing.”
“Music variety was excellent.”
“Explanation of “rhythm” was very good.”
“Different clapping techniques was good and song that followed was good example of it.”
“Wonderful variety of instruments to show and play”
Anon., Elementary Teacher, Fillmore, CA
• “The staff highly recommends this assembly as a “must see.” It is without hesitation that I recommend the Bowerman's Kuimba, African Music Assembly.” Joan Benbow, Principal, Alamo School, Alamo, CA
A NEW CD FROM KUIMBA!
Salimu! Heshimu!
Many Harpers Hallers remember Lark and Kris Bowerman from the magical concert and workshop they presented to us in 1999. Lark played a variety of African harps for us as well as folk harp and taught us a song in Swahili. During the workshop, we had a wonderful time learning about improvisation from Kris and Lark.
Lark writes songs in Congo Swahili or Kingwana (a dialect of Swahili that was spoken in the region where Lark was born and raised) and plays all sorts of harps on this new CD, Salimu! Heshimu! (which translates Greet! Honor!) She plays the kinubi (Congolese bow harp), the Tanzania (Nyamwezi cow herder’s harp), the Kalimba (thumb harp) and also the folk harp. Kris adds flutes, recorder, and all kinds of percussion – and both sing. In the CD booklet they have included the words phonetically in Congo Swahili or Kingwana as well as the English translation. I found myself wanting to sing along to several of the songs and the printed lyrics made that possible. There are also stories or a bit of background for each song.
Many of the tracks feature one kind of harp or another, but there are also some great tracks that are primarily percussion. A few of the tracks were recorded in the Congo in 1990, but most were recorded in the Summer and Fall of 2000. Four of the 14 tracks are instrumental, and the rest have singing both by Lark and Kris, with some backup vocals by the Hayfork Village Singers. The general tone of the CD is that of celebration ¬– celebrating life, creativity, and beauty. From the very first track, the syncopation on the kinubi and percussion instruments, and Lark’s clear unaffected voice singing in Swahili establish a mood that is both fresh and new and so ancient that it touches the core of being.
This CD is a delight to listen to – get ready to be transported to the forests and jungles of Africa and experience a real sense of the joy of the indigenous people of the Congo.
Verlene Schermer
The Reel Fling
March, 2001
Kuimba weaves a magical spell with their enchanting melodies, mesmerizing harmonies, and penetrating lyrics. The music is at once universal and uniquely personal . . . the musicians share themselves with their audiences in an intimate and moving manner.
(Kuimba's) original music heightened my appreciation of the universality of music. Lark's authentic African folk vocal timbre shows her regional roots.
Kris and Lark’s breadth of tone color and variety of texture kept me constantly engaged as they switched smoothly from instrument to instrument, from instrumentals to vocals . . . seldom have I wanted to hear a group twice in four days; Kuimba weaves a spell that beckons me back, that in a way, beckons me home.