Kutimbua Kivumbi (Stomp the Dust!) (2016)

Composer note
Kutimbua Kivumbi is a Swahili phrase that loosely means, “Stomp the Dust.” This composition was inspired by a trip to Kenya, where as a part of a sabbatical, I studied the music of the Akamba people in the Machakos region. Kenya is a colorful place, reflected visually and also in the vibrant and welcoming character of the people. When composing this piece, I wanted to musically embody that spirit, demonstrated by the variety of timbres and sonorities throughout the composition. Because of Kenya's multifariousness, my experiences were vast and varied. I enjoyed the fast-paced Nairobian city life, took advantage of the simple, technology- and electricity-free rural life, served in the slums, and even safaried at the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro. These daily (sometimes hourly) juxtaposed adventures — rapidly shifting and sometimes superimposed — added a level of unpredictability and excitement to my trip, elements I tried to musically recreate in this work.

The Machakos region, where I did most of my ethnomusicological study, has two short wet seasons, resulting in prolonged dry spells throughout the year. Consequently, the terrain of the scenic plains in the low lands is exceptionally dusty. Many of the traditional songs and dances, especially the ones that plead for rain, are performed on the arid landscape. As the people dance and stomp, dust rises, creating a beautiful and fascinating visual space. In this piece, it was my goal to musically create that unique atmosphere, using my compositional voice and the inspired rhythms and sounds of the Akamba people. After a ferocious percussive invitation, the work begins with a violin solo, portraying the leader of a call-and-response, freely singing until the rest of the people join in and sing in heterophony. The primary theme of this piece is an adaptation of a welcome song that was performed for me by the Akamba people. The entire experience was moving: witnessing the drumming, the call-and-response singing, the dancing on the dry land, and, yes, watching the dust rise. The work culminates with a soundscape that representing one final stomp, with the dust slowly rising and gaining intensity — a final plea for rain.

To the Children at the Rafiki Village Orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya & Prof. John Kilyungu Katuli

— Shawn Okpebholo