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Jonathan Mbiriyamveka Entertainment Reporter
Zimbabwe’s own superstar Dr Oliver Mtukudzi is billed to perform at Misty’s situated at Newlands Shopping CEntre tomorrow to mark the hangout’s first anniversary.

The gig will see Dr Tuku, as he is now known by his legion of fans, together with The Black Spirits, the group that backed him since his formative years, rocking fans left, right and centre with soothing music.

Bernie Bismark of Misty’s said they were delighted to celebrate their first anniversary with Dr Tuku.

“It’s with great pleasure we bring to you the Oliver Mtukudzi Trio at Misty’s . Enjoy the intimacy with Tuku in a great environment, good food, good drinks, great parking. This is a show not to be missed and a good outing this weekend,” Bernie said.

She said Misty’s had successfully carved its own niche and has within one year exposed uninhibited talent from the young and old musicians.

Dr Tuku on the guitar and vocals, Sam Mataure on drums and Enoch Piroro on bass are expected to bring the much needed energy on stage just the way music lovers like it.

The gig has the markings of a thriller considering that Dr Tuku is riding on a wave of success with his new album titled “Mukombe Wemvura”. The album features the hit “Dzinga Hwema”.

Tuku is one of the granddads of Zimbabwean music. His songs don’t carry explicit political messages, but he makes it easy to read between the lines.

According to Boston Globe what makes Tuku’s music so powerful is that he delivers his messages with a gritty vocal style reminiscent of Otis Redding over intricate interlocking patterns adapted for guitar from mbira.

Tuku Music also incorporates the hard-driving South African mbaqanga beat and the katekwe drumming patterns of his Korekore people.

Far more than a musician, Tuku has been deeply involved in other art forms. He was featured in “JIT”, the first film with an all-Zimbabwean cast, and played a leading role in “Neria”, a feature film for which he also wrote and arranged the soundtrack. He also wrote and directed the musical “Was My Child”, a production exploring the plight of street children in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.

His recent short film was “Sarawoga”.

Lately, Tuku has been producing recordings by other Zimbabwean artistes from his Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton where he is also grooming young talents in several arts disciplines.