WEST Devon and East Cornwall-based musicians were this week taking to the stage at The Eden Project, as part of the tourist attraction?s on-going Africa season. The Chimanani Band ? which comprises Zeko, Chanda, Binni, Ed and singer and dancer Anna ? plays African music using a range of traditional instruments, such as djembe drums and the mberi, a specialised Zimbabwean musical instrument. The band was involved in the Tavistock Sings! festival this spring, performing at the Merrivale Dawn Chorus event and in Bedford Square. During their Eden Project gig, which will take place in the Mediterranean dome, they will perform in front of a backdrop of artwork by Tavistock resident and town councillor Caroline Keane. Caroline, who lived in Zimbabwe for 17 years, has completed a huge octagonal piece of work on a Zimbabwe theme, plus others based around African gods. She said she was delighted at the exposure at Eden which would be given to the band. ?It?s taken a lot of hard work to get this together, but I am really pleased these people will have the opportunity to play at such an event as this,? she said. The band is involved in musical work in schools and colleges and is hoping to arrange more dates at halls and national trust properties in the area. It is also working with the Sacred Footprint project, launched at Plymouth University earlier this summer.
