During Zimbabwe’s struggle for independence from colonial rule, second Chimurenga guerrilla fighters (vanaMukoma) hosted  night vigils were Jit was central as underground entertainment. As a political tool, it was used to instill and cement revolutionary ideals, the music of Comrade Chinx which inspired the "call and response" project #roger by MC Biko Chisuvi and Bryce Detroit.



▲ Chibhanduru, video by Madzibaba Gwadiz

The 1992 movie by Michael Raeburn title "Jit" featuring Bhundu Boys ▶

This fluid genre of music gave birth to several dance styles in the 1970’s and got popular through bands such as Chazezesa Challengers, Four Brothers, and the Bhundu Boys (who became central in a movie by Michael Raeburn 1992 movie called “Jit”) .Similar to Detroit’s Ghetto tech music, Zimbabwe Jit music is a repository of some of  the country’s fastest beats. It gave birth to other versions such as “Sungura” popularized by Nicholas Zacharia, Chazezesa Challengers, Orchestra Mberikwazvo and Alick Macheso. One of the most popular dances that was evolved from the Jit music was Borrowdale championed by Alick Macheso. The name comes from Borrowdale Horse racing course's  in Harare which is also connected to the famous  horse betting urban culture in Zimbabwe ,the dance resembles a galloping horse.

▲ Mono Mukundu, 2018 ZCCD Research Fellow at Motown Museum

This phenomena started with an earlier ZCCD project “Skype and Mix” pioneered by collaborators George Rahme(Detroit) and Philani Majama aka DJ PITSO (Harare). This exchange was realized in 2013 between two spaceS: Public Pool (Detroit) and Inner Café (downtown Harare).

With the two aforementioned DJs this was followed by an extended version of the project in 2015 with four DJs. This took place between two spaces: The Black Box in the Nnamdi Center (Detroit) and Inner-City Café (Downtown Harare). DJs present were; DJ Pitso(Harare), DJ Sammy Tee(Harare), DJ Nivek(Harare), DJ Jammie Cee(Harare), DJ George Rahme(Detroit), DJ Stacey Hotwaxx(Detroit), DJ Drummer Beat and DJ Los(Detroit). With live feed from either side in real time, we witnessed a dance off between two dance masters and their crews : Franco Dhaka aka Slomo and Extra kwazvose battling it off with Haleem Rasul aka Stringzand Hardcore Detroit.

In 2018, ZCCD partnered with The Center for World Performance Studies , University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, focusing on developing hybrid forms between Zimbabwe Jit and Detroit electronic music. ZCCD Research Resident artist in 2018 was Mono Mukundu a maverick guitar player and producer, who has performed with well-known Zimbabwe bands such as Oliver Mtukudzi, Thomas Mapfumo, and Andy Brown. Mono(Zimbabwe) collaborated with Everett Reid drummer and producer (University of Michigan) and other Detroit Musicians .With the  guide of Detroit Jit master, Haleem “Stringz” Rasul. This resulted in  a performance on September 13, 2018 in Ann Arbor.

The second phase of the Jit Exchange will be realized in 2019, focusing on the dance intersections of the two music genres from the two places ,at the center of this will be collaborator, Franco Dakha aka Slomo, working with Haleem “Stringz” Rasul and his Hardcore Detroit crew.

This exchange is based on the similarities of the two dance movements existing more than eight thousand miles apart yet bizarrely connected. The project began with a “call and response” ZCCD project which artists from either end were prompted to respond to an artistic gesture from the “other” space. ZCCD agent, Chido Johnson and Haleem Rasul received a Kresge Fellowships in 2013 and began conversing about the similarity of the name and dances in 2013.

In their project, Haleem was breaking down the Jit dances into their separate components and it became evident how similar Detroit Jit was to Zimbabwe. The first Call and Response project was formed in a discussion between  ZCCD co-founders, Kumbulani Zamuchiya and Mr. Chido Johnson.

Both artists, Haleem “Stringz” Rasul and Franco Dakha aka Slomo where filmed separately in different spaces dancing to each other’s selected music. Haleem danced to Slomo’s own Jit music, but dancing Detroit style Jit, while Slomo responded to Detroit electronic music selected by Haleem, and likewise, dancing Zimbabwe style.

Both artists, Haleem “Stringz” Rasul and Franco Dakha aka Slomo where filmed separately in different spaces dancing to each other’s selected music. Haleem danced to Slomo’s own Jit music, but dancing Detroit style Jit, while Slomo responded to Detroit electronic music selected by Haleem, and likewise, dancing Zimbabwe style.

The trailer of their first collaboration as a call and response was filmed by Kumbulani Zamuchiya, Chido Johnson (with help from Michael and Rola) and edited by Dyani Douze (2014).

In 2015, Haleem Rasul was awarded a ZCCD Residence Research to travel to Zimbabwe and explore Jit the dance, and work with collaborator, Slomo. ZCCD partnered with Jibilika Dance Trust, then led by Plot Mhako, to facilitate Haleem’s interaction with dance organizations in Zimbabwe. During the six weeks residency, Haleem taught dance workshops in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare, and Chitungwiza on Detroit Jit dances.

◄ (LEFT) Haleem "Stringz" Rasul in Harare running a Detroit Jit workshop with Jibilika Dance Trust.

◄ (RIGHT)Haleem showcasing Detroit Jit to Chitungwiza township community.(2015)

ZCCD received a John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Grant in 2017 for the Jit Exchange, and partnered first with Department of Afro American and African Studies (DAAS)at the University of Michigan thanks to the strong support from the Program Associate, Elizabeth James. Elizabeth connected ZCCD with Ingrid Racine, Academic Program Specialist from the University of Michigan Center for World Performance Studies, and  Director, Dr. Michael Gould. Together they were able to match the Knights grant and invest beyond the match to help the project to become successful.

◄ (TOP) Shakiera Ibrahim (neighbor), and from DAAS is Arielle Chen, Elizabeth Ann James, and Stephen Ward (DAAS faculty) at ZCCD

◄ (BOTOOM) Haleem (left - ZCCD collaborator), Masimba Hwati(ZCCD), and the Center for World Performance Studies is Ingrid Racine, and Michael Gould at ZCCD.

The second phase of the Jit Exchange will focus on bringing to full circle the project by connecting the dancers from Zimbabwe and Detroit. The focus is to bring Franco Dakha aka Slomo and a second dancer. Using the sound from the “first phase” of the Jit Exchange as the musical foundation, the collaborations will intersect with Detroit Jit dancers to explore the between the two “jit” dances. This will be coordinated with Haleem Rasul and his Hardcore Detroit crew. During this ZCCD Research Residence, Slomo will similarly run workshops in several places within Detroit on Zimbabwe Jit derived dances.

Accompanying Slomo will be Kumbulani Zamuchiya, who is a documentary film maker who is currently working on a film around the Jit exchanges from 2015 to date. . There will be other guests such as Plot Mhako who will be invited to present a synopsis of 20th to 21stcentury Zimbabwe dance cultural practices.

JIKNO

This is a sonic exchange between Zimbabwe Jiti, Jerusalemi, jit (rhumba) with Detroit’s techno music that gave birth to Detroit’s Jit dance.

Michigan Radio station interview