In Masanga Bodo Tuku is working with young artists, most of them from his Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton, whose talent he says he wants to showcase.
Tuku, speaking through his publicist Shepherd Mutamba, said he finds pleasure working with young talent because they are eager to learn. “When artistes are eager to lean they are easier to develop and more adaptable to situations.”
His wife Daisy makes a guest appearance in the musical singing a verse off Masanga Bodo which is the title of one of his new songs, yet to be released. Daisy is no newcomer to showbiz, having also featured in the well known film Neria.
According to Mutamba, the musical repertoire has been carefully selected and is connected in a kind of a medley whose thematic emphasis examines issues of life such as tragedy, strife and love which Tuku believes are already predetermined for mankind by mystical powers beyond man’s control and understanding and do not occur as a matter of coincidence.
The musical features Tuku singing some of his golden oldies and includes compositions from other artistes. There will also be some interesting variations to Tuku songs that fans are familiar with. For example, Apostolic Faith group Chiyedza Chevatendi will acappella some of Tuku’s songs, and urban groover Pauline Gunduza will also do her version of some Tuku music.
Tuku and urban groover ExQ in rehearsal.
The mixing and matching goes deeper with Tuku singing some of his daughter Selmor’s compositions and providing backing guitar for his prodigy, Munya Mataruse.
Urban groovers EX Q, Pauline, marimba player Jackie Nyamutumbu and other artists come in as storytellers whose presentations connect different scenes, creating an intriguing musical journey that Tuku fans are sure to enjoy.
Artists in the production come from as far as the rural areas of Guruve, from the town of Chegutu where Chiyedza Chavatendi hail from, from Norton and Harare.
At least 40 people are employed in the musical, 25 of whom are performing artistes. The rest are technical staff.
The musical will be staged at 7 Arts Theatre in Avondale, Harare, on the night of Friday June 22, 2012.
Masanga Bodo, the musical, was written by Tuku who is also the production’s artistic director.
The diverse musical genres from included, from Tuku’s own katekwe to urban grooves, gospel, traditional dance and contemporary Zimbabwean music, promise to surprise and awe.
Tuku's schedule continues to be really hectic. He has a performance tonight, June 15, at the African Praise Concert (55 Kwame Nkrumah Ave). His next big gig will be in the UK this July where he will perform along with another Zimbabwean great, Alick Macheso, in London and Leicester, at the Summer Splash Golden Tour.
