adminProblem Masau Arts Correspondent
A pre-birthday gig for superstar Oliver Mtukudzi (pictured) will be held on September 7, at Kadoma Hotel and Conference Centre, two weeks before he turns 61. The gig will also be used as Mtukudzi’s homecoming show after touring Europe, Canada and the United States for three months.
Dubbed “PaHotera”, the show will quench the thirst of local fans that have gone for months without seeing the music icon on stage.
Show promoter Tonderai Mwaita from Xtra Time Entertainment said the much hyped gig will see Tuku sharing the stage with Tryson Chimbetu.
“Mtukudzi will be backed by the Black Spirits and fans will join him in singing a happy birthday song,” he said.
The legendary musician is expected to arrive on Thursday. Mwaita said the show has become an annual event following the success of last year’s inaugural event.
“We have decided to make this event an annual show after experiencing resounding success for the same gig last year where amazingly, we had a crowd of around 1 500 people and yet Tuku performed alone, without supporting acts.
“In light of last year’s success, we want this year’s show to be on an even bigger scale and this means high-profile supporting acts,” he said.
Tuku will be performing with a full band.
Though he has trimmed his local shows in recent years, Tuku remains one of the best musicians to ever come out of Africa.
With 60 albums to his credit, Tuku started his music career in the early 1970s as a member of the Wagon Wheels Band. Later, he started the Black Spirits which he fronts. With the Black Spirits, Tuku has released over 30 full-length albums and several compilations.
He is a household name in Zimbabwe and South Africa and is quite well known throughout Africa.
With his husky voice, he has become the most recognised voice to emerge from Zimbabwe and onto the international scene and he has earned a devoted following across Africa and beyond.
Online Reporter