Tuku's new musical premieres at 7 Arts

by Entertainment reporter

2012 June 19 07:13:32 | 1203 Views

SUPERSTAR Oliver Mtukudzi will add another feather to his cap when his new musical "Masanga Bodo" premieres at the 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale, Harare, this Friday.

This is Tuku's third musical after "Was My Child" and "Nzou neMhuru" which were released to critical acclaim.

In "Masanga Bodo" Tuku brings together a total of 20 artistes from diverse musical genres to make up the cast of the production which fuses live music, dance and drama.

The artistes include EX-Q, Pauline Gunduza, daughter Selmor Mtukudzi, Tapiwa Chibaya of the group Chiyedza Chevatendi, Pakare Paye Arts Ensemble, Guruve Marimba Arts Ensemble, mbira player Jackie Nyamutumbu, Pakare Paye-based group Tsvete, as well as Tuku himself and his wife Daisy.

Tuku has been holding intensive rehearsals with the artistes at his Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton ahead of the staging of the musical on Friday.

"The musical is not only showcasing the ingenuity of how different musical styles and sounds can be connected in a sequence of an extraordinary medley but also how varied rhythms can be cleverly synthesised in story-telling.

"The musical will be made up of live music, dance and drama to tell a story whose plot criticises what Mtukudzi calls socio-stereotype belief that events of daily life are mere coincidence," Mtukudzi's publicist, Shepherd Mutamba, said.

"Masanga Bodo" looks at the inter-connectedness of life and how forces beyond one's scope influences one's destiny.

"Mtukudzi believes that the nature of life is such that people's individual existence and events, good or bad, are already pre-determined by mystical forces way beyond mankind's understanding or control," Mutamba said.

Apart from composing songs and taking part in musicals, Tuku has also featured in a number of big screen films and television dramas among them "Ndichiri Mudiki" and "Sarawoga".

His debut film "Neria", in which he was part of the cast and also provided background music, added a feather to his already blossoming career. Tuku is a force to reckon with in the arts sector and has shared the stage with some of the world's renowned artistes.

His advocacy for children's rights, among other causes, has earned him recognition as Unicef's Goodwill Ambassador.

With more than 60 albums to his name, Tuku turns 60 in September.

Tuku Premier

Source: TH