Chris Berry on the Healing Power of Music and Regenerative Nature of Hawaii

Marly Benedicto and Chris Berry have a conversation about Chris’s insights on the healing power of singing and dancing, how to create a polyrhythm, and why Hawaii is one of the most important and regenerative places on the planet. 

Chris Berry is a Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist known for mastering African music, particularly the mbira and ngoma drums. Over two decades, he fused traditional African rhythms with modern genres through his band Panjea, which achieved platinum success in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Berry, who spent eight years in Zimbabwe studying Shona music, has performed globally, including at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and collaborated with artists like Eminem and Bill Kreutzmann. He has taught at prestigious institutions like Berklee College of Music and Stanford University and founded the Bana Kuma music retreat in Hawaii, emphasizing music as a tool for healing and cultural connection 

Over a ten year journey to Africa, Chris found himself living in the ghettos and villages of Zimbabwe where he sought to study the music of the Shona people. Chris was initiated by the village elders into their heritage, where he learned to speak their language fluently, play their music- mastering the MBIRA, and found his singing voice in the all night polyrhythmic ceremonies. 

He brings you into the Spirit and Essence of Africa through this dancing, singing and drumming Sacred Altaring.

Bana Kuma Literally translates to Sacred Altering. It is your innate creative ability to take thought and turn it into reality. It has been taught in over 30 countries!

Chris Berry, based on the Big Island of Hawaii, will guide you into the sacred altering through traditional song, dance and drumming inspired by his time living in Zimbabwe.

Discover the Bana Kuma Chris will be guiding us through on week 6 of the Hawaii Embodied Regeneration immersion. Bana Kuma Literally translates to Sacred Altering. It is your innate creative ability to take thought and turn it into reality.

This week will focus on the healing power of rhythm and movement, with workshops on African drumming and elemental storytelling hosted by Chris Berry and the Bana Kuma. You will learn how to use music and dance as tools to communicate with the elements and Spirits of the earth. The week culminates in a live performance, where we bring community from across the island to dance, sing and celebrate with us.

On our upcoming community immersion, Embodied Regeneration Hawaii, Chris is a featured week-long instructor and will guide you into sacred altering through traditional song, dance and drumming inspired by his time living in Zimbabwe. Check out the upcoming retreat and access early registration by click here: https://lu.ma/4li57dqv