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Oliver Mtukudzi and Ringo Madlingozi on stage at Pakare Paye Arts Centre on Saturday

Arts Reporter
It was a night to remember as thousands of fans thronged Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton to celebrate 40 years of Tuku Music with renowned musician Oliver Mtukudzi.

Mtukudzi was jovial throughout the night as he took people down memory lane with old hits and also performed a number of new songs.

Tuku, as the musician is popularly known, narrated how he started his career 40 years ago and retold touching moments of his career.

After performing a few songs during his slot that started around midnight, Tuku told his fans how he began singing after failing to get a job.

“My friends, 40 years in music is quite a long time and I have seen a lot.

“I remember how I composed one of my songs because of a tight situation that I went through. It was such a tough situation and I have come a long way,” said Tuku.

“I would walk from Highfield, where I used to stay to the industrial area near the city centre to look for a job.

“I went many times and would join several queues without knowing what people were queueing for.

“One day I joined a queue outside one prominent company and asked a man ahead of me what we were waiting for and he said he did not know.

“He said he had just joined the queue with the hope of getting a job. I also did the same on several occasions.”

Tuku said he remembers well the day he composed the song “Dzandimomotera” before he became a musician.

“One day I was walking from the city centre to Highfield and I really felt exhausted.

“I would use routes far from the main road because I was ashamed of being laughed at by girls from the neighbourhood that would be travelling by bus.

“I did not want them to see an unemployed, tall, thin and hungry man miserably making his way home.

“I would pass through Moja Shops and see some singers and appreciated them. I passed through Southerton Police Station and always avoided the main road but I was hopeful I would get employment.

“Onee day, I passed the police station and used a side road via the industrial area opposite the police camp.

“Someone recognised me and called my name.

“I stopped and realised that he was a man from our neighbourhood called Mukoma Felix.

“He realised that I was hungry and bought me a drink. That was the time when Cherry Plum was introduced in the country.

“Mukoma Felix gave me a cold Cherry Plum and I really enjoyed it. I asked for permission to take the remainder of the drink home because I had thought of my brother Robert. I also wanted him to taste the nice drink.

“However, I drank it along the way and got home with an empty bottle.

“I showed Robert my purple tongue and the empty bottle to prove that I had drunk Cherry Plum.

“I enjoyed the drink and told myself that poverty should be banished from my life.

“That is when I composed the song ‘Dzandimomotera’ and that was about 40 years ago.

“I have come a long way and I thank you for the support.”

Tuku played various songs and was joined on stage by South Africa’s Ringo Madlingozi and they did “Into Yam” together before Ringo performed “Ndiyagodola”.

Thousands of fans that thronged the venue enjoyed the show that also featured big acts Suluman Chimbetu and Jah Prayzah.

Sulu was the first big act on stage while Jah Prayzah performed after Mtukudzi and staged a scintillating show.