Mtukudzi, Macheso: the Battle for Leicester

Mtukudzi, Macheso: the Battle for Leicester

• Mtukudzi takes daughter, son on UK tour

• Sam Mtukudzi: what the future holds

• Mtukudzi joined by son on UK tour

• Oliver Mtukudzi, 53 years on

• Mtukudzi's friends at birthday gigs

• Promoters clash at Tuku, Macheso show

• Tuku has just soiled himself

• Zimbabwe: a nation subsumed in politics

• New Zimbabwe.com victory as Mtukudzi apologises

• YOUR SHOUTS (Part 3): Outrage as Tuku backs Mugabe

• Mtukudzi: 'I am not a Zanu PF supporter'

• YOUR SHOUTS (Part 2): Outrage as Tuku backs Mugabe

• YOUR SHOUTS (Part 1): Outrage as Tuku backs Mugabe

• The bungling lunatic from Dande

• Oliver Mtukudzi sings for Zanu PF

• Mtukudzi, Ringo wind-up UK tour

• Mtukudzi records movie soundtrack in NZ

• Mtukudzi, Chaka Chaka conquer Namibia

• Ishmael out of tune with UK fans

• Tuku takes his subtle, discreet protest music to UK audiences

• Zimbabwe keeps protest music muffled

• Tuku brings Somerville crowd to its feet

By Showbiz Reporter

BOTH promoters are not too keen on using the term "head-to-head" to refer to their forthcoming shows.

Yet Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom have not failed to see that whether by design or chance, Oliver Mtukudzi and Alick Macheso's forthcoming UK tours could turn into popularity barometers for both artists.

"I foresee a whitewash, mark my words," opined one reader on the New Zimbabwe.com Forums (see link).

"Leicester will be the deciding battle," added another reader, Wezhira.

Music industry insiders have also been quietly talking of a "suicide" and "mismatch" in reference to the shows, but the promoters cannot be heard using those terms without sounding arrogant or being made to eat their words.

Although they won't admit it, it's turning out to be a clash of two Titans on foreign soil.

Alick Macheso will take the plunge first, with a gig lined up at the West Indian Centre in Leeds on Friday, April 7, followed by Leicester a day later.

Mtukudzi, touring with his daughter Selma, and son, Sam, will blitz the UK a week later. As it happens, his shows fall on a Bank Holiday, starting with London on Thursday, April 13, followed by Brighton on April 14 and Leicester on Saturday April 15.

A bonus for Tuku fans is an acoustic session to be held in Southend on Sunday, April 16 -- at half the price of normal shows.

Fungwa Mawarire, a spokesman fro Zimtownship, Mtukudzi's traditional promoters, said: "This show was planned last December, and the date was fixed then which is why you were able to report that he would be touring with his daughter. We are not trying to sabotage another artist or anything of that sort. Tuku is looking forward to the tour and giving his best, which he always does."

Joab Magugu, representing PHAB Entertainment, Macheso's promoters, was equally adamant the timing was coincidental.

He said: "We didn't know Mtukudzi was touring on that weekend, but it's done now. The deal has been signed and it's too late in the afternoon to cancel the show."

Interestingly, Macheso's promoters have avoided London. But they would also claim Mtukudzi has avoided Leeds/Bradford by going to Brighton.

But as one reader said, they will get to share the Leicester audience. Is this, then, the Battle for Leicester?

SEE MTUKUDZI SHOW DETAILS

SEE MACHESO SHOW DETAILS

JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
shapiro@newzimbabwe.com