Tuku mentee retraces his roots

Maria Chiguvari

ONE of Pakare Paye Arts Centre’s brightest prospects, Innocent “Sarungano” Kufakunesu, says he still misses his late mentor, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi.

Sarungano says he cherishes the memories he had in Norton under Tuku’s great tutelage.

He made this revelation ahead of the live recording of his live DVD to be held at Pakare Paye next month.

Tuku died in 2019, aged 66, after losing his battle against diabetes.

He was declared a national hero.

After his death, there were genuine fears his legacy would come under threat but his products are ready to defend the territory.

Eugine Museredza, who is the manager of Sarungano, said they were tracing back their roots by recording a 45-minute live DVD at the centre.

“We are working on a project that will be released the first week of May.

“We will be going to Pakare Paye to shoot a live DVD recording that will be released in May.

“The choice of Pakare Paye is because this is where Sarungano was nurtured and groomed by the late Oliver Mtukudzi, so it is sentimental for him to do something at that place,” he said.

Museredza assured fans that the DVD will be a mixed bag of Sarungano and Tuku’s compositions.

“The DVD recording will be a mixture of his songs from his last album that was released last year in November which carries eight tracks.

“The album was produced by Masimbe who used to play for the Black Spirits.

“We are really looking forward to this event where we are going to meet old and new fans of the late Tuku and, of course, ours.

“The success story of Tuku should be shared and told for ages as is the case with Bob Marley,” he said.