By Julian Bayan

Last Saturday and Sunday at the Los Angeles Zoo, a band by the name of Masanga Marimba performed a live gig for World Gorilla Day. One of its nine band members is art teacher Stefani Thomas, who has been part of the band since 2000. 

Masanga Marimba is a Zimbabwean-styled marimba band founded by Dr. Ric Alviso in 2000. They perform music varying in cultural origins, such as from Latin America and Africa.

“The music we play is centuries old in some cases, arranged from the sacred instrument called a ‘mbira,’ like a kalimba or thumb piano,” Thomas said. “We have branched out to Latin music because the marimba was brought to so many countries when people were taken away from Africa. The marimba is popular in Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Mexico to name a few.”  

She also revealed that her band’s music style is often compared to the genre, Caribbean Steel, which is known for its cheerful vibe. 

“The music we play tends to be really happy as most of our songs are played in major keys,” Thomas said.

Thomas’ passion for music goes beyond her recent addition to the band, dating back to her college days. When she was a student percussionist at CSUN, Thomas played the marimba, which furthered her interest in Zimbabwean-styled music.  

“The band leader, Dr. Ric Alviso, is an ethnomusicologist and studied music in Zimbabwe,” Thomas said. “When he came to CSUN, he started an African music class that featured Zimbabwean marimbas, and Ghanaian drum and dance. I was in the first class in 2000, and kept enrolling, even though I wasn’t getting credit, so he suggested we form a band outside of the class. I’ve been playing on Zimbabwean-style marimbas ever since.”

Thomas’s background in music also extends to her parents, who both were musicians. Joining the African music class in CSUN paved the way for a sideline activity she now does on the weekends. 

The band performs gigs in many places in and around Los Angeles, most recently at the Los Angeles Zoo.

“Most of our gigs are private parties, and weddings, but we played for Mayor Villaragosa’s inaugural celebration, LA Grand Performances, Worldfest, the Ford Theatre, and the Live Oak Festival, to name a few,” Thomas said. “We even played a couple weeks at Summer Sounds that used to be held at the Hollywood Bowl.”

As the modern music industry is dominated by genres such as pop and rap, Thomas and Masanga Marimba aim to broaden their listeners’ music knowledge by exposing them to unfamiliar genres. They currently have three albums that are available on Spotify and other music platforms.

Check them out on their website, where you can also hear their music.