Today is about listing and relisting things to be done and articles to be accumulated before leaving for Erica’s Zimtreat at Bushbaby lodge in Arcturus, Zimbabwe. The retreat actually starts on February 14th with a team of mbira teachers coming one day and then the next day we practice what we learned with Erica and on our own or in small groups. Instead of an all night bira which was planned for February 28 ending on March 1st (Sunday morning), Erica hopes to take us to see at least one spirit medium of an ancient ancestor. She is working with Patience to set this up. The threat of cholera has made a large group celebration (100 musicians) difficult.
While I would have loved a bira, the idea of seeing a smaller ceremony with a spirit medium is very interesting to me. Patience own mother is a nganga healer and works with the spirit of the mermaids. More connection with ceremony around the ancestors and Patience’s deep understanding of the healing aspects of the mbira will be a most welcomed part of the trip.
My friend, Joseph Stevenson, traveled to the last Zimtreat in 2006 and was deeply moved and connected by the experience of working directly with the Zimbabwe teachers and settling down on the soil of the earth of Zimbabwe. His recording on a Zoom H4 of Forward singing low bass notes that vibrate in your whole body and descriptions of working with Luken Pasipamere and Newton Gwara (with a trip into Harare to listen at a local hot spot) also Patience and Endiby (her brother) carry the energy of the music as one would only hope one could experience. He inspired me to go for this trip even though the news from Zimbabwe is dismal.
I still need a prescription for Cipro, Doxycycline (for African tick bite fever), and a dose of Zithromax (Cholera related). I do have my prescription for Malarone to take for Malaria though we are cautioned to use mosquito repellent and long sleeves to avoid a mosquito bite. While there are reports of ticks because the cattle are not being treated for ticks as they were, the mosquito population isn’t reported to be a problem where we are going.
I am looking for a Solio charger for my cell phone. This will have to be purchased on directly from Solio or through Amazon as Target or Batteries Plus in Southern Oregon do not carry the product as Solio lists on their web site. We can text message in Zimbabwe with a plan for $9.99 for 100 messages. I assume my phone will cooperate and be willing to be recharged via a couple of options. Electricity is sketchy so we must find other ways to use our modern conveniences. A head lamp is recommended for evening practice if one would like to see their fingers. Not always necessary but good to have and leave behind.
Somewhere in the blog, I will list all the travel support items that are recommended to take.. I am sure others could add to the list.
I invite anyone who is reading to comment on anything I have written or any suggestions you might have for travel to Zimbabwe. We will be picked up at the Harare airport. This thought is very comforting.
I will e-mail this installment to my blog, thanks to Nicholas’ good directions and help setting up the blog. If I have any e-mail ability at all in Zimbabwe, I will post to the blog via e-mail or perhaps text message (will have to try this). Thanks for reading.
