Boka Marimba

November 15 | 7:30 pm | $15 advance / $18 day of show 

Come experience Portland’s original African-style marimba band! Boka Marimba brings the energetic dance music of Zimbabwe and southern Africa to the Walters stage with a show that is a feast for both the eyes and ears as the musicians move with lightning speed and agility. You’ll have trouble sitting still when the Zimbabwean-style marimbas combine with drums and vocals for an irresistible groove.

Experience the sound of seven marimbas, gourd shakers called hosho, mbira ("thumb piano"), and drums, along with songs sung in the Shona language and filled with melodic themes and variations layered in polyrhythmic, cyclic patterns. All ages will delight in this evening filled with enthusiastic and dynamic rhythms that will have you dancing in the aisles.

This performance, supported by a City of Hillsboro Performance Series Grant, directly supports Boka Marimba, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting The Immigrant Story.

More about Boka Marimba

Boka Marimba has been thrilling audiences in the Pacific Northwest with the exuberant music of Zimbabwe and Southern Africa for more than 35 years. Boka Marimba is a ten-piece band, blending soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass marimbas, drum set, percussion, and vocals to create a unique and irresistible sound.  

Dumisani “Dumi” Maraire, the late Zimbabwean master musician, composer, and ethnomusicologist, brought this music to the Pacific Northwest in the 1960s. Marian Grebanier formed Boka Marimba in 1987 with a group of people taking workshops with Dumisani. Together, they decided to build their own marimbas and form a band with his guidance. The band quickly became popular and won "Best World Music Band" at the 2^nd annual Portland Music Awards in 1991. The sheer pleasure of playing is the glue that bonds the group together over the years and attracts new members.