Chartwell Shorayi Dutiro (1957 – 2019) was a Zimbabwean musician, who started playing
mbira when he was four years old at the protected village, Kagande; about two hours drive from
Harare, where his family was moved by the Salvation Army missionaries during the
Chimurenga. Even though the missionaries had banned traditional music, he learned to play from his brother and other village elders. His mother also encouraged him through her singing of traditional songs.
As a teenager Chartwell moved to the capital, Harare, and became saxophonist with the Salvation Army band. A little later, in 1986, he joined the world-famous band
Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited. Touring the world for eight years with that band, he was their arranger, mbira player and saxophonist. From 1994 until his death in 2019, Chartwell based himself in Britain where he continued to teach and play mbira.
Chartwell had academic qualifications in music, including a degree in
Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is the study of music from the cultural and social aspects of the people who make it. It encompasses distinct theoretical and methodical approaches that emphasize cultural, social, material, cognitive, biological, and other dim ...
from
SOAS
SOAS University of London (; the School of Oriental and African Studies) is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the federal University of London. Founded in 1916, SOAS is located in the Bloomsbury are ...
in London where he also taught for many years.
Chartwell's solo album, released in 2000, is entitled ''
Voices of Ancestors
Voices or The Voices may refer to:
Film and television
* ''Voices'' (1920 film), by Chester M. De Vonde, with Diana Allen
* ''Voices'' (1973 film), a British horror film
* ''Voices'' (1979 film), a film by Robert Markowitz
* ''Voices'' (19 ...
''. He also has several recordings on CD in which he plays with the band
Spirit Talk Mbira
Spirit or spirits may refer to:
Liquor and other volatile liquids
* Spirits, a.k.a. liquor, distilled alcoholic drinks
* Spirit or tincture, an extract of plant or animal material dissolved in ethanol
* Volatile (especially flammable) liquids, ...
: ''Ndonga Mahwe'' (1997), ''Nhimbe'' (1999), ''Dzoro'' (2000), and ''Taanerimwe'' (2002). Chartwell also worked with
Serenoa String Quartet
''Serenoa repens'', commonly known as saw palmetto, is the sole species currently classified in the genus ''Serenoa''. It is a small palm, growing to a maximum height around . It is endemic to the subtropical and tropical Southeastern United ...
to combine classical string quartet style with traditional African music.
From 2016 until 2019 he was part of the band Kusanganisa, a collaboration with Leandro Maia (guitar), Chris Blanden (bass guitar) and Nick Sorensen (saxophone). They recorded a live album.
In 2019 Chartwell recorded the album ''Musumo – Calling Ancestors'', together with his partner Jori Buchel.
Chartwell Dutiro died in Devon, UK surrounded by loved ones on 22 September 2019. A week prior to his death he was awarded an Honorary PhD from
Bath Spa University. His dissertation was entitled 'The Power of the Voices of the Ancestors: Mbira Music of Zimbabwe'.
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dutiro, Chartwell
1957 births
2019 deaths
Zimbabwean musicians
Alumni of SOAS University of London
Place of birth missing
Musicians from London