Echoes of 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 sabbatical trip to Kenya, where I studied the music of the Akamba people in the Machakos region. Kenya is a colorful place, reflected visually and in the vibrant and welcoming character of its people. When creating this work, my aim was to capture that spirit musically, as evidenced by the variety of timbres and sonorities throughout the composition. Due to Kenya's diversity, my experiences were vast and varied.

I embraced the fast-paced Nairobian city life, took advantage of the simple, technology- and electricity-free rural life, served in the slums, and even embarked on a safari at the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro. These daily (sometimes hourly) juxtaposed adventures — rapidly shifting and occasionally superimposed — added an element of unpredictability and excitement to my journey, elements I sought to recreate musically in this work.

The Machakos region, where I conducted most of my ethnomusicological study, experiences two short wet seasons, resulting in prolonged dry spells throughout the year. Consequently, the terrain of the scenic plains in the lowlands is exceptionally dusty. Many traditional songs and dances, especially those that plead for rain, are performed on this arid landscape. As the people dance and stomp, dust rises, creating a beautiful and captivating visual display. In this piece, my objective was to musically evoke that distinctive atmosphere, using my compositional voice and drawing from the inspired rhythms and sounds of the Akamba people. Following an intense percussive introduction, the work commences with a violin solo, depicting the leader of a call-and-response, singing freely until the rest of the people join in, resulting in heterophonic singing. The main theme is an adaptation of a welcome song performed for me by the Akamba people. The entire experience was moving: the drumming, call-and-response singing, dancing on their dry land, and yes, watching the dust rise.

I reimagined this condensed version of Kutimbua Kivumbi for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro François López-Ferrer — a concert celebrating music from around the world. This adaptation primarily focuses on my safari experience, where I encountered the beauty, authenticity, excitement, and unpredictability of wildlife, as well as my time navigating the bustling city life of Nairobi.

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

— Shawn Okpebholo