Fighting the Power

With revolution, civil wars, and other continuing atrocities since 1964, some Zimbabweans almost miss the colonizing dimwits they overthrew. For our part, pondering the famine, oppression, violence, pestilence, and other tragic absurdities of Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe leaves us itching to fight the power through music and choreography. Seriously, art's a time-honored way to rebel under the radar. Especially if your call for social change is cast in lyrics sung in the neglected Shona language of Africa coupled with highly symbolic dance movements.

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More About

• Nora Chipaumire
• Robert Mugabe
• Thomas Mapfumo
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media
• Dance

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Nora Chipaumire has been dancing ’round the world for several years, appearing with big-time companies and as a member of Urban Bush Women. This week, Chipaumire's residency at ASU culminates in a presentation of her work in progress, “lions will roar, swans will fly, angels will wrestle heaven, rains will break: gukurahundi,” with ground-breaking chimurenga musician Thomas Mapfumo.

The free performance, which is preceded by socially conscious mingling and snacks, begins at 7 p.m. Friday, September 18.