About Us
When Kunaka plays, the people dance. It’s as simple as that. And who could resist the urge to fling some limbs to the hot rhythms rippling from the marimbas of 9 turbo-charged teenagers?
Kunaka is one of a chain of youth marimba and drum outfits that have emerged in Vancouver in the past decade. The main impetus was the arrival of Pasipamire Gunguwo and Kurai Mubaiwa. The Zimbabwean music masters found work teaching local kids how to play their songs and tunes, in after-hours school programs. 
The Jabulani youth ensemble emerged soon afterwards, morphed into the smaller Kutapira and passed the torch on to Kunaka – two girls and seven guys who pound the keys and thump the skins with infectious energy and amazing skill.
“We’ve been going for three years now,” says Camilo Gordon-Romero. "Our musical director is Theo Vincent. He’s always been a part of what we’re doing since he was in Jabulani. He also does most of the arranging and helps us get prepared for concerts.”
Kunaka is very much a community-based East Vancouver band. The kids get together once a week in a basement at the Britannia high school, and play at most of the local festivities. At last year’s Commercial Drive Car-Free Day they created a sensation playing right on the street. This summer they were on the mainstage at the global-village green of Grandview Park, playing to several hundred people from the ’hood.
“There are eight marimbas, ranging from bass to soprano,” says Camilo. "On some of the instruments we double up, but never on the bass or baritone. And at the end of each number we move to a different instrument. There’s always someone behind the kit drum to give us the basic beat.”
Kunaka’s music is mesmeric, shifting rhythm, texture and volume regularly to keep it interesting and lively. “Kurai gives us most of the material – he has an endless supply of traditional and contemporary music from Zimbabwe. Right now we’re at a world music summer camp called Lively Up Yourself where he’s teaching us every day.
“We’ve also started writing our own stuff. It’s mostly four of us who bring the music in, but everyone seems to have something to put into it and make it better. We have a regular composition class with two of the guys from Kutapira.”
For now Kunaka plays only African-based music, but the group is adept with other styles and instruments. “At previous Lively Up Yourself camps we’ve studied things like [Japanese] taiko drumming and samba, and played the balafon and steel drums."
“We’re also involved in teaching younger kids. There’s a group of eight-to-12-year-olds in a band called Tambai Marimba that’s also based out of Britannia.
“Kunaka has certainly become quite popular in Vancouver – the other day I was asked for my autograph! We really want to tour more. Next year we’re hoping to play in California, maybe in Montreal and Scotland, too. We’re recording our first album very soon – live at the Vancouver Folk Festival. It’s pretty cool.”
– By Tony Montague, Penguin Eggs - August 2008
Past Performances
Zimfest Colorado USA June 2009
Opening of Canada Line, Vancouver Aug 2009
Quest University, April 2009
Vancouver Marathon, May 2009
BC Buds Festival, Vancouver 2009
Surrey Childrens Festival May 2009
Reach Out to Africa May 2009
Golden Spikes Day, July 2009
Dancing on the Edge Festival July 2009
Burnaby Discovery Days July 2009
PNE Community Stage Sept 2009
Vancouver Jazz Festival 2007
Chan Centre 2007
Children’s Hospital ChildRun 2007/08
Vancouver Youth Awards Presentation 2008
Vancouver International Children’s Festival 2007
Earth Day 2008 (Vancouver)
University College of the Fraser Valley- Stephen Lewis talk
UNICEF’S Unite with Art Auction and Gala
Magnetic North Festival (Vancouver)
Harrison Festival of the Arts 2008
Vancouver Folk Music Festival 2008
Whistler Children’s Festival
Multicultural Health Fair (Croatian Cultural Center)
Bowen Island Children’s Festival
CLICK
In House Festival
Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House Harvest Festival
LOVE Youth Festival
The Larry and Willy Show- Jack FM
Baobob Festival