The Austrian artists Werner Puntigam (acoustics & visuals) and Klaus Hollinetz (electro-acoustic composer) started their collaborations as part of the Austrian-Zimbabwean cultural exchange project Reflections on Tonga Music in 1997. Among other projects referring to exchanges with African culture, in 2002 they created together with the Austrian cinematic artist Michael Pilz the sound/video/photo installation Gwenyambira - A Tribute To Simon Mashoko as homage to one of the masters of mbira music in Zimbabwe. And in 2003 they started the "rural-urban chamber music" trio Mbirations feat. Adam Chisvo, great mbira player of Zimbabwe's young musicians generation. In their newest music project Siankwede - in addition to the audio-visual installation echoe/S - they reflect the meetings with the Tonga people in Zimbabwe and their extraordinary and amazing Ngoma Buntibe Music also on the 2006 released CD, which is dedicated to Siankwede (C1920-1998), the composer of the Ngoma Buntibe ensemble Simonga in Siachilaba. The CD also includes the video "paraphrase" by special guest Thomas Schneider.
