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Oliver Mtukudzi

Entertainment Reporter
SUPERSTAR Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi arrived back home yesterday from Australia ahead of the much-hyped gig dubbed as “Thank You Zimbabwe” scheduled for the Andy Millar Hall, Exhibition Park, on Friday. The “Meso Piriviri” singer reportedly had a successful tour of Australia where he not only performed for Zimbabweans but multicultural audiences.

He is expected to continue with his international tour soon.

“We are excited Mudhara (Tuku) is back home and we are now waiting for Ringo, who is arriving tomorrow around 9pm.

“All is set for the gig and we encourage fans to come so that they don’t miss the fun,” Partson “Chipaz” Chimbodza, the show promoter, said.

Tuku, who is the granddad of Zimbabwean music, is sharing the bill with the likes of Ringo, Jah Prayzah and Winky D.

The gig promises to be yet another night of collaborations with the most anticipated duet coming from Mtukudzi and Ringo.

The song “Into Yam” originally by Ringo was redone featuring Mtukudzi who gave it another lease of life.

The song became a hit in Southern Africa and up to now fans still enjoy it.

Ringo, who sings mostly about love, is not a stranger to Zimbabwean audiences.

He has been to Harare on a number of occasions and in all the cases his gigs were sold out.

So when he returns to Harare, it is like a homecoming show since he views Zimbabwe as his second home while he also calls Tuku (mukoma) or his elder brother.

The Cape Town-born Ringo is emerging as one of South Africa’s strongest new live performing acts.

Ringo, however, is no newcomer to the music scene and has persevered through a succession of bands, and session work which has seen him recording with artistes as diverse as Hugh Masekela, Simply Red, Teddy Pendergrass (The Power of One) and Caiphus Semenya, as well as for the movie “The Lion King”.

According to music.org, Ringo was born in 1964 and spent his childhood and school days in Gugulethu township, but finished high school in Umtata.

He was musically active from a young age, and while at school, he led an acapella group which performed at community and youth functions. He later became a vocalist for the group “Ikwezi”, but it was after being a frontman for the band “Peto”, that his unique vocal talents were first recognised nationally.

Peto won the national “Shell Road to Fame” talent competition in 1986 and this brought the band — and Ringo — national exposure, with television profile, touring engagements, and the role of support act for the King’s Trust concert in Swaziland which was headlined by Eric Clapton.

Peto soon disbanded and Ringo moved base to Johannesburg, where he spent the early 1990s as a member of Gecko Moon.
During this time, he also did a lot of studio session work  for radio commercials, film, and album recordings.

Ringo’s first album, “Vukani” (Wake Up!) was released in 1996, during which year he also served as a support act when Papa Wemba toured South Africa as part of the Re-Connection Programme.

His second album, “Sondelani” (Get Closer) was released late in 1997, and with its themes of reconciliation and national unity, carried a strong message for South African people. The album reportedly achieved Double Platinum status in sales, awards, and major airplay.

This ensured that Ringo remained a sought-after-act on the performing circuit in South Africa.

Those who attend Friday’s Andy Millar show are likely to have a good time with the four artistes that have an impressive discography.