Artist Spotlight
Chris Berry & Panjea - Kids African Party
When he was a boy growing up in California, Chris Berry fell in love with African music. He decided to move to Zimbabwe, a country in southern Africa with rich and beautiful music. While living there, he learned the music of Zimbabwe’s Shona people. Village elders accepted him and taught him the Shona language and how to play the mbira, a thumb piano. Soon, he started his band Panjea and it became famous all over the country. Since leaving Africa, Chris has toured around the world and played with many famous musicians.
“Home” is based on a style of Zimbabwean music called chimurenga. If you listen closely you can hear the tinkling sounds of the mbira, which sounds like water bubbling over the rocks of a river. Chris sings about how happy he is to return home after traveling a long time.
