More music, no rest for Tuku

October.
Next week, he will be the main attraction at the Cimas Health Expo in the Africa Unity Square on Saturday, October 13.
That, however, does not mean Samanyanga   has been inactive. Far from it. Only last week he was spotted at a belated birthday party organised for him by the United Nations Children’s Fund, for whom he is the regional goodwill ambassador for Eastern and Southern Africa.
Hardly 24 hours later, he was at the 11th edition of the Chibuku Road to Fame finals held at Glamis Stadium, where he was one of the guest artistes along with sungura king Alick Macheso, Peter Moyo, Tryson Chimbetu and Winky D.
This weekend, he is also expected to put up a good performance when he leads an array of musicians at the Solo Festival to be held at Pakare Paye Arts Centre.
Nigerian artiste, Kunle Ayo and Suzanna Owiyo from Kenya will be among other high- profile artistes performing at the festival.
Next week, when he performs at the health expo, Tuku will take to the stage for two hours, from 12pm and 2pm.
The internationally acclaimed artiste has a catalogue of more than 60 albums to his name, some of which include “Zvauya Sei” (1986), “Shoko” (1990) “Neria” (1992), “Ziwere” (1994), “Paivepo” (2000), “Bvuma” (2001), “Nhava’ (2005), “Tsivo” (2006), and “Dairai” (2009).
Throughout his illustrious career, Mtukudzi has not been shy to speak for the voiceless and has been sending messages through his music in which he also tries to raise awareness on various social issues.
Most fans will remember tracks like, “Todini” in which he pleads with society to take the HIV and Aids pandemic seriously.
Ironically, Tuku’s own health has been the subject of speculation over the last few years but during his birthday celebrations recently, his wife Daisy poured water on such rumours declaring that he was fit as a fiddle.
“Mufunge zvenyu vanhu vekwaMtukudzi hapana akafuta kusara kwavatete vangu avo vamwe vese ndozvavakaiita saka handizivi kuti zvinotaurwa zvinobva kupi.
“The only time Tuku gained weight was when we got married. He has been slim and dark and ndinomuda zvakadaro,” she said.
Mtukudzi is, however, known to be diabetic and has openly spoken about it in recent years.
At his birthday celebrations, the musical icon encouraged youths to uphold moral values and desist from destructive behaviour.
“Kune vakomana nevasikana vechidiki, zvamunoona, kuzvibata hachisi chibharanzi, ndizvo zvakaita kuti ndisvitse makore 60 (To the youth of today, moral uprightness is not stupidity)
“I urge you all to uphold good moral values and take responsibility for your actions, that way you will see yourselves through to 60 years or even more” said Tuku.
Founded in the post-World War II years, as the Commercial and Industrial Medical Aid Society, Cimas is now the country’s biggest medical aid society with over 15 000 member firms and close to 500 000 individual members and dependants.
Although Tuku will be the main attraction at the health expo, the kids will not be starved of entertainment as there also will be dramas, clowns and jumping castles among others activities.
Also on offer will be free check-ups for those suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes as well as free HIV and Aids testing courtesy of PSI Zimbabwe and other stakeholders in the medical field.