The all-new Book Café, located at 139 Samora Machel Avenue hosts the two artists on Monday evening, April 30, 2012.
Tuku and Sulu are two of Zimbabwe’s biggest musical crowd-pullers and rarely as individuals perform at small, intimate shows as the one slated for Monday, but even more rare is a combined performance of this nature.
It is Tuku’s debut at the new venue which relocated and re-opened in March, but not the first collaboration between the two award-winning artists. Tuku recorded on Sulu’s song Kwedu in 2010, sharing a verse, and they have done numerous on-stage collaborations.
Tuku will perform solo on Monday, and Sulu will have his backing band. There will be a few surprises in store as the two artists will do a few songs together.
Tuku is hot from the studio, having just finished recording his 61st album Sarawoga. Sixty-One!
Between his busy local and international schedule, he enjoys working with young artists like Sulumani, against the background of his own arts centre Pakare Paye in Norton which has seen the emergence of good artists recently. Pakare Paye is currently working on the musical Masanga Bodo written and directed by Tuku, which is already in rehearsal with a cast of 25 young talented artists from Pakare Paye. The musical stresses his belief that in life there is nothing that comes as a coincidence, everything is planned, a way of life, or fate. The superstar celebrates his 60th birthday this September.
Tuku travels again later in the year, headed for to UK, Canada, USA, also to SA, Botswana, and lots of shows in Zim.
Sulu is pulling crowds all over Zimbabwe, and performs at the Book Café for the second time since its re-opening, bringing him into the centre of the city, right into the arts hub of the capital, and within easy reach for his fans, who will be delighted to catch their man in this exciting up-close double bill.
Sulu’s infectious, non-stop danceable groove and simple but memorable lyrics, with musicians and backing vocalists resplendent in eye-catching stage gear has proved an evergreen musical force in recent years. Sulu, with his easy going stage persona, sings and belts out his latest dance moves, but when the young man gets in the mood and picks up his guitar, the fireworks begin.
Musically, Sulu Chimbetu represents an interesting fusion of African influences. While guitar-driven Zimbabwe beats sit at the core of his sound, reminiscent at times of the great Devera Ngwena, one feels the influence of Congolese “show-time” rumba that has a long crossover history in Zimbabwe and also some interesting East African influences. Sulu is at an important stage in his young career. He is one of those with a “large canvass” of musical ideas that may bring him the regional and African acclaim his music deserves, following his stunning local successes.
- Penny Yon for Pamberi Trust / Zimbo Jam
