Background
His mother also encouraged him through her singing of traditional songs.
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Chartwell Dutiro
Edit ProfileEducation
SOAS, University of London.
Career
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. Since 1994, Chartwell has based himself in Britain where he continues to teach and play mbira.
Chartwell has academic qualifications in music, including a degree in Ethnomusicology from SOAS in London where he also taught for many years.
Chartwell"s solo album, released in 2000, is entitled "Voices of Ancestors". He also has several recordings on Civil Defense in which he plays with the band Spirit Talk Mbira: Ndonga Mahwe (1997), Nhimbe (1999), Dzoro (2000), and Taanerimwe.
Chartwell is also working with Serenoa String Quartet to combine classical string quartet style with traditional African music He used to play in Ashburton"s Methodist Church Hall every Tuesday night where he led a Shona choir made up of local people, from farmers and teachers to business people, not to mention the landlady of the local B&B. In many ways, he has become a Zimbabwean missionary, playing mbira in schools and community halls, creating a space where people can explore cultural differences through the Shona tradition.
Chartwell has 7 known children.
In February 1012 Chartwell founded the first United Kingdom Mbira academy named Mhararano, including a weekly choir and Mbira group. He also runs a monthly music evening, named "Roots Music Night" in Dartington Space, Dartington Estate, Devon.
