SPRINGFIELD – Children and parents filled the Fountain Plaza outside City Hall on July 22 to see Zimbabwean singer Ratie Dangarembwa-Morgan (Ratie D) and her band as part of the Springfield Public Library and History Museum annual outdoor multicultural Summer Reading Celebration.
Around 150 folks gathered under canopy tents, on the stairs, and around the fountain to listen to Ratie D, John Mambira, Gilbert Zvamaida, Parker Chase Koehn, and Rei Mastrogiovanni. The event featured cultural performances, including African and Zimbabwean music and dance, with a theme of unity and community.
Ratie D started the show off with a chant she created herself.
“Unity in community, all together we are one,” she said.
She pulled out an Mbira, a traditional Zimbabwean instrument also known as a kalimba or thumb piano, for This Little Light of Mine. She invited members of the crowd to come onstage and sing a verse of the song. Folks were shy at first, and nobody volunteered until one brave adult went up and sang his heart out, making it look fun for the kids. Shortly after, a line of children formed as they waited to take their turn singing a verse.
The summer series programs are produced in partnership with Honoring Our New Ethnic Youth (HONEY). Youth members of HONEY took the stage and sang the African National Anthem and a cover of the reassuring song “Three Little Birds.”
HONEY youth members also performed a traditional warrior dance, accompanied by singing and clapping.
“Muchongoyo is a very special warrior dance that is done in Zimbabwe and was done by our warriors when they were preparing for war,” Ratie D said. “Now, it’s mostly practiced just for entertainment.”
The next performance in the summer series was Urban Jazz Dance Company: Deaf Louder with ASL Interpretation from a Deaf director on July 29. Urban Jazz Dance Company wove American Sign Language with innovative dance to raise awareness of Deaf issues through the performing arts and the syncopation of urban jazz rhythms.
All are welcome to attend the events at the library every Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Food for Lane County provides free lunches to kids under 18 every weekday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
