Nyttu Chongo "Nkovu Wa Xivavu” - 2022 Cedar Commissions
Nyttu Chongo is a musician and composer from Maputo, Mozambique who was raised living with music woven into everyday life. In his original work “Nkovu Wa Xivavu,” which means “A Celebration of Pain,” Chongo weds the voices of Central, Southern, and West Africa through the inanga, xitende, and kora. These iconic and disappearing African string instruments from three distinct regions of the continent (Rwanda/Burundi, Mozambique, and Senegal) have never been played together in a single work. By featuring these instruments with deep African soul together at the heart of this improvised and spirit-led piece, “Nkovu Wa Xivavu” sings of an Africa divided with the opportunity to rediscover itself, illustrated through thin individual strings woven together to become a stronger, united continent.
Mikaela Marget - Cello
Jason Burak - Cello
Svetlana Davis - Viola
Karin Valdizan - Violin
Learn more about Nyttu Chongo: https://nyttuchongo.com/
The Cedar Cultural Center presented the eleventh annual Cedar Commissions, on February 18th and 19th, 2022, featuring new works by Carlisle Evans Peck, Nyttu Chongo, Maddie Thies, Vie Boheme, Alicia Thao, and Kat Parent. The Cedar Commissions is a flagship program for local emerging artists to create and debut brand new music on The Cedar stage, made possible with a grant from the Jerome Foundation. Since the program began in 2011, the Commissions have showcased new work by over 60 Minnesotan emerging composers and musicians, including Dessa, Aby Wolf, Adam Levy, Maria Isa, Joe Horton, Joey Van Phillips, Gao Hong, Dameun Strange, Dua Saleh, and many more.
Learn more about The Cedar Commissions: https://www.thecedar.org/cedar-commis....
The Cedar Commissions is made possible in part by a grant from the Jerome Foundation.