Mtukudzi, Chaka Chaka conquer Namibia

Mtukudzi, Chaka Chaka conquer Namibia

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By Mukelabai Mumbuna

DESPITE the stifling heat in a gigantic tent pitched at the Independence Stadium in Windhoek, popular Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi and South African songbird Yvonne Chaka Chaka sang their way into the hearts of hundreds of ecstatic music lovers last Saturday night.

The popular duo, who have carved themselves a respectable following on the continent and beyond, belted the over 500 or so concert goers who braved the heat in the enclosure and swayed to hit after hit belted by the duo in a concert that was bankrolled by the Bank Windhoek.

The duo joined hands to create a sensational experience that was truly cherished by the screaming fans who each forked out N$50 to enter the tented enclosure.

There was a vibrant array of sounds from instruments from South Africa and Zimbabwe. Mutukudzi fondly known as "Tuku" to thousands of his fans, whose career spans almost three decades with forty-six albums to his credit, enthralled the revellers with the anthemic "What Shall We Do".

His popularity particularly in the past six years and that of his band "Black Spirits" has skyrocketed to almost cult status in Southern Africa and beyond.

While Yvonne Chaka Chaka popularly known as "Mama Africa" added the cherry on top of the cake on Saturday when she passionately sang "I'm In Love With A DJ" without any shred of doubt one of the hit songs that catapulted her to her present stardom.

She in fact released this hit at the apex of the disco era in 1984. With her captivating alto voice the beautiful songbird again firmly cemented her popularity during Saturday's performance.

The lively audience swayed to the musical offerings by the two Southern African musical giants in what was otherwise an orderly concert despite the oppressive heat in the giant tent that could not dampen their high spirits.

The entertaining music was characterized by diversity, vigor and passion that seemed to bewitch the audience.

The organizers said the music offering, one of the most entertaining on the local music calendar, attracted over a thousand people. The aim of the concert was to promote performing visual arts and to generate new markets and to promote culture. Many Namibians who attended this offering described it as a roaring success.
New Era
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