By Paul Owere There are certain opportunities that come rarely in the partying circles. And as a true party animal, you can’t afford to miss them, not when the A-listers of Dar are involved.  It's the pomp, glamour and swagger that accompany such occasions that describes a true party scene.

I have vowed I shall always be part and parcel of this crowd.  On such occasions, as I have always said, the party is one thing, and the ticket hunt is  another even more thrilling business. This last week had been a busy one. It was a week full of politicking, as it turns out that of late everyone is either a political expert or an analyst of some sort. 

I mean, even some people you know can hardly digest an election manifesto like the ones the contesting parties are launching, have found some place in the open-to-all election forecast business.  Some have even started drawing the next cabinet well in advance, even before the October elections. It is sometimes difficult to tell where these guys get the audacity to say such (unconstitutional) things. Some of us have turned into a bore because we can hardly discuss such 'issues of national importance'.

Important or not, I have other serious things of my own to take care of! The good word had gone around quite in advance that veteran Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mutukudzi aka Tuku and the Black Spirits would be in town for a double bill show.  So, the hunting for tickets had to begin in time, because the 50k they were asking was kind of prohibitive. And by Friday afternoon that wasn’t any of my worry as I had secured tickets for both dates, thanks to the Bohemia chief.

There was news that other local artistes Carola Kinasha and Ashimba would make show to curtain raise for the Zimbabwean icon. The two set the proceedings underway as early as 8 p.m and I must admit these two artistes are headed for great heights as they gave the audience a rare taste of live music. After their two hour-show, the stage went silent and the lights deemed as Tuku’s team set up their instruments. 

Tuku’s performance In no time, the Black Spirits were in business, with Tuku’s loyal fans swaying in approval of the Afro-fusion beats.  This was definitely a different ball game to what I have been feasting on lately. The  band led by Tuku had some unique qualities of their own, each of them apart from singing also played a musical instrument.  The multi-talented Namatayi Mubariki Chipansa was on the Conga drums while her stylish husband Charles Chipansa manned the marimba with some unmatched swagger and pomp. 

Sam Mataure did the drums as Never Mpofu handled the base guitar, with the maestro himself, Oliver Mutukudzi playing the lead guitar.  The group started with mid tempo beats from their 40 album collection, playing songs like Neria, Ndakuvara, Tozeza Baba, Bvuma, Todii and many others. The rhythms were so breath talking that the seats were rendered useless as the audience were kept on their feet for the three-hour performance.

Though my Shona friends let me down as they were not at hand to translate some of the lines for me, I still joined the audience to sing along.  What was evidently different at this performance was the fact that no one called out on the audience to shout and put their hands up!  There were just no such instructions on both shows and at a certain moment it was like everyone was possessed by the ‘Black Spirits’. The drums, the Marimba and the guitars did the talk as we did the rest. 

Even after the performance was long gone, if there is one thing that I can’t take away from Tuku then it is his energy levels.  At 58, the musician who began his career 33 years ago is still full of vim and vigour that not many young artistes can match. He danced from the beginning to the end with very minimal interludes.  The audience As I had anticipated the turn up on the first night was all an indication of an all sold out show t

hat turned out to be corporate studded as well, with brothers from distant continents making the large numbers.  Our brothers from comrade Bob’s land too, were there in numbers to give Tuku all the company he needed.   So it was time to rub shoulders with the cream of the cream as we irrigated our throats with exotic drinks which were equally  dear in price, imagine that small Chui going for 3.5k.  

When I tried to grumble a bit, I was reminded that I was in a Five Star venue or something of the sort. Next time I know what to do, just don’t ask me. Stage and sound Though the sound was quality, it wasn’t loud enough and the stage was kind of hidden and low save for the projector screens that gave us view of what was happening inside. On this one I think the organisers underestimated Tuku power. Hopefully they will make amends next time around, if at all there will be any.  

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