Mtukudzi's friends at birthday gigs

Mtukudzi's friends at birthday gigs

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By Trust Khosa

OLIVER “Tuku” Mtukudzi will celebrate his 53rd birthday in style later this month.

The veteran stage master said he had invited some of Africa’s top musicians for two get-together concerts in his honour and achievements pencilled for the capital.

The high profile gigs – dubbed Tuku and Friends – will be on the weekend of 24-25 September.

The first show that will feature mainly foreign artists, will be at Belgravia Sports Club on 24 September. Another to be dominated largely by locals is slated for the Harare Gardens the following day.

The visiting musicians would come under the Tuku Music Label and the proceeds realised would be channelled towards the completion of Mtukudzi’s Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton while the remainder would go to charity.

One of the organisers of the event, Sam Mataure, on Tuesday confirmed that the show would definitely go ahead as scheduled. Mataure, a former member of Tuku’s backing group the Black Spirits and now a session drummer in South Africa, confided that the event was a get-together concert meant to reinforce relations among regional musicians.

Some artists expected for the September 24 gig include Yvonne Chaka Chaka (South Africa), Eric Wainana (Kenya), Judith Sephuma (South Africa), Jabu Khanyile (South Africa), Maureen Lilanda (Zambia) and Steve Dyer in addition to some of Zimbabwe’s top musicians who moved base to South Africa.

These include Amon Mvula, Louis Mhlanga and Chengetai Razemba.
Some local acts expected to grace mammoth concert include Dudu Manhenga, Tuku’s enterprising daughter Selmor Mtukudzi, Zexie Manatsa, Victor Kunonga, Bob Nyabinde and the pair of Willom Tight and Dino Mudondo.

The show kicks off at 12pm till late.

This will be more of a family show where none amongst the foreign contingent will take part.

Mtukudzi will also show the youngsters the way and the light at the Sunday concert that will also feature an array of local gospel artists.

These include the godfather of Christian gospel music Baba Mechanic Manyeruke, Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave, Zion Christian Church’s (ZCC) Defe Dopota Brass Band and the exciting Vabati VaJehova.

Further information gathered by Mirror Arts has shown that the visitors will come without their own backing bands. They will be backed by the Black Spirits.

Mataure said this was meant to cut down on costs since Tuku would cater for air tickets for his guests.

“We expect foreign artists a little bit earlier and we hope they will hold rehearsals with the Black Spirits,” he said.

Asked about the centrality of the venue, Mataure was said the two venues were strategic and spacious.

“We are pleased with the two venues we have selected and we can assure the fans of maximum security,” he said.

By Tuesday the organisers were yet to fix the admission fee for both shows.
Tuku failed to turn-up for the news conference as he has reportedly gone to his rural home - Daily Mirror
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