Mbirathon!

What is the Mbirathon?

Mbira players at locations around the world joining to keep traditional Shona mbira music played continuously for 24 hours. The 2012 event is the 8th annual Mbirathon. During Mbirathon, people play mbira on every continent!

When is it?

From 6 pm on Saturday March 3rd, to 6 pm on Sunday March 4th, 2012 (local time zone for each location) - please participate for as much of this time as you can, even if only one hour.

What is the purpose of the Mbirathon?

1. Honoring the common ancestors and ancestry of all humankind, and fostering individual, community, and global healing. Background: Mbira is used in Shona culture (Zimbabwe) for healing, and for communication with ancestors, including those who are the common ancestors of all human beings alive on earth today. The vibration of mbira music is itself healing, whether or not you believe in communication with ancestors.

2. Fundraising for MBIRA's non-profit projects - the 2012 Mbirathon funds will be used for payments to Zimbabwean village musicians being recorded for the first time, at the time of recording.

How do I participate?

1. Playing mbira! Contact your local Mbirathon host (see Mbirathon Locations below) to get time and place information for your local gathering, which may be anything from 1 hour to 24 hours, depending on your location. Those who don't play mbira are also encouraged to join us in our healing intention with your listening, prayers, singing and dancing.

No host for your area yet? Email Mbirathon if you would like to be a local Mbirathon host in your area, anywhere in the world.

Even if you are the only mbira player in your area, being listed might result in a traveling mbira player joining you for Mbirathon, but you can also play alone and know that people around the world are joining you in both playing mbira and healing intention.

2. Help raise funds for over 230 Zimbabwean musicians MBIRA works with, in any of these ways:

~ Make a tax-deductible donation - click on Donate at www.mbira.org - let us know that it's an Mbirathon donation.

~ Send a tax-deductible donation made out to MBIRA to PO Box 7863, Berkeley, CA 94707-0863, USA, with a note "Mbirathon donation"

~ Collect donations in advance of Mbirathon from co-workers, friends, etc. in support of your participation

~ Make a donation at your local Mbirathon event (cash or check)

~ Give a performance that is a benefit for Mbirathon, before or during Mbirathon

~ Do some "busking" during the Mbirathon

~ Sign up at escrip.com so that when you use your credit, debit and grocery discount cards, merchants donate a percentage to MBIRA

Please print out flyers about the Mbirathon and MBIRA's work to give donors. Donors may give you checks made out to MBIRA (in the US only) or cash, or donate directly to MBIRA as described above. If you collect donations in advance of the Mbirathon, please give checks and cash to your Mbirathon host to send to us.

MBIRATHON GATHERING LOCATIONS AND HOSTS TO CONTACT (will be updated weekly as new locations are added - please contact joseph@mbira.org if you wish to host in your area)

(note: as of March 2, 2012, the following are confirmed Mbirathon hosts for 2012)

ARGENTINA:

Buenos Aires: Contact Hernan Gulla (hernangulla@hotmail.com)

CANADA:

Vancouver, BC: Contact Sara Cooper (sbc@sarabwell.com)

CHINA:

Shanghai: Contact Willow Neilson (willow.neilson@gmail.com)

ISRAEL: Contact Eyal Freed-Man (harpercussion@gmail.com)

THAILAND:

Bangkok: Contact Megan Crandell (megan.crandell@gmail.com)

USA:

Arizona