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SA only release for Mtukudzi gospel album

by Bruce Ndlovu
13 Apr 2016 at 01:35hrs | Views
Local fans of Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi will have to wait a little longer to have a taste of the superstar's latest gospel offering as the album is exclusively available to those in South Africa for now.

Last week, Tuku publicised his 10-track gospel compilation, God Bless You: The Gospel Collection south of the Limpopo after its release there a fortnight ago.

According to Tuku's drummer and publicist Sam Mataure, a local album release had not yet been pencilled in, as attention was still on marketing the album in South Africa were it was released.

Mataure however promised a tentative local release date for the end of this month.

"The album has been out for a fortnight, but only in South Africa. At the end of the month after we've taken stock of how it's doing, we might then launch it in Zimbabwe," Mataure said.

He refused to elaborate on why the album was targeted at South Africa saying although he was not aware of Tuku's artistic vision, the artiste might release another full length gospel album at the end of the year.

"Later on in the year when we've seen how this album was received, we might consider recording new songs for another album."

A week after God Bless You was released Tuku gave an interview on SABC 2 where he said the album was inspired by the desire to give fans a gospel album.

"It's not moving from jazz to gospel. If you got through my catalogue there's always two or three gospel songs on every CD. There was a demand of having an album made up of gospel songs only," he said.

Tuku also shed light on his creative process, saying he drew most of the content from the lives of people.

"As long there're people, there's something to talk about. And when there's anything to talk about, there's something to sing about.

Everything comes back to the people," he said.

Local fans may however download the new album on iTunes and Spotify among many other digital music downloading platforms. The album contains tracks Apo Jesu Anouya, Chinyarara, Pfugama Unamate, Mamutora, Nditungamire, Baba Ndinodisa and Hakuna Zita among others. Those in Bulawayo may however be lucky to sample some of the songs when the artiste performs in the city later this month.

Source - the herald