All set for Tuku album release gig

All roads will on Friday lead to the Borrowdale Country Manor for the mother of all shows —The Oliver Mtukudzi 65th Album Release Concert.

Tuku, who turned 64 on Thursday, officially launched the much-awaited album Eheka! Nhai Yahwe at a colourful ceremony held at Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton on the same day.

The show at the Borrowdale Country Manor is likely to draw a full house since it will be Tuku's first performance after the album launch. Although the album was launched in South Africa and United Kingdom a few weeks before it was unveiled in Zimbabwe, euphoria has already gripped Tuku's legion of followers in the country.

It is against this background that many of his followers are expected on Friday to make their way to Borrowdale Country Manor.

"This is a special month for Mdhara Tuku and we have to celebrate it with him. I am inviting all Tuku supporters to come to the show and help him celebrate his birthday and the new album," said show organiser Thompson Dondo of D & G Events.

Tuku's manager Sam Mataure said the Black Spirits would play most of the songs from the latest 12-track offering.

"On Friday night, Oliver Mtukudzi and the Black Spirits will perform a lot of songs from the new album Eheka! Nhai Yahwe. We are very excited that it is going to be our very first time performing these songs from the new album, so those coming on Friday will hear the full album," Mataure said.

"There are a lot of events and public shows lined up to promote the new album, so obviously at those shows we will be performing new songs."

Mataure described the album as one of the best offerings Tuku has released in his 41-year-old career.
"It's a beautiful album, one of those must have copies," he said.

Tuku is likely to perform alongside his wife Daisy, who makes a belated entrance on the music scene. She features on one of the songs titled Haasi Masanga.

The open-air show will see contemporary musicians Sam Dondo and Jah Prayzah as well as jazz songbird Tariro ne Gitare warming up the stage for the legendary musician.

Sam Dondo and Tariro Negitare said the show would give them opportunities to sample songs from their forthcoming project while Jah Prayzah's camp promised fireworks.

Dondo said tickets were being sold at Pariah Borrowdale, Pariah Avondale, Kwamambo, Shangri-La, Newscafe Borrowdale, Newscafe Five Avenue, Gava Restaurant, Maestro, Paula's Place and Sopranos Restaurant.