Irimba
This year we again offer an opportunity to learn the Tanzanian irimba (or ilimba or “thumb piano”)! Irimba is played by pressing the instrument’s metal keys with one’s thumbs. The same type of instruments can be found in different parts of Africa, but the ilimba is an instrument of the Tanzanian Gogo people. Irimba is used both as a solo intrument and together with other instruments, as well as for accompanying dance and songs. Maybe the most famous irimba player was Hukwe Zawose (1938/40–2003).
The irimba intensive course is a two-day workshop, meaning that on Sunday we will continue where we left off on Saturday; the course fee (50 €) includes in total four hours of teaching. The loan of an instrument is included, as well. If you have your own irimba, it’s tuning should be checked in advance. For those who participated in the workshop previously: we will learn different pieces than last year, so you are also very welcome to participate!
Check the instructions for signing up and other workshops on the workshop page!
Petra Käppi
Petra Käppi is a performer and musician specilized in traditional Tanzanian music and old Finnish traditions. She has studied ilimba playing and other local music during her several study trips to Tanzania. Petra works mostly in the field of children’s culture in the Culture Cooperative Uulu in multi-arts and multicultural concerts and workshops, where music, dance and theatre are combined. Music and dance have accompanied Petra since her childhood: musically oriented school class, learning piano at the Tampere conservatory and a long history as participant of the Samba School Roseira and a member of the dance group Oba Oba as well as studying ethnomusicology at the University of Tampere are important elements in her background.