Music maestro Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi showered Jah Prayzah with flashy compliments and reverent annotations on Friday night at the official launch of the latter’s seventh album, Mdhara Vachauya.
By Kennedy Nyavaya
The 11-track album was released in a surreal occasion that attracted a bumper crowd which packed the giant Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) to the beams, a feat that has not been matched by any local musician.
Tuku, who has released more than 60 albums, could not hide his astonishment as he lauded the Uzumba-bred singer for achieving so much in a short period and setting the bar high. “Apa Jah abuda nenyika. Apa mwana wangu, apa Jah haana nharo [Jah Prayzah has done really well. He is my son and is very respectful),” Tuku said during his performance, while urging support for the artist’s good work.
“Aita chidadiso kwatiri as artistes asi chinhu chimwe chete ndechekuti dayi tatsigirawo ko ngatitsigireiwo zvakanaka ko unoda kutsigira nezvese zvese [He has made us proud as artists, but we should support him and his good work not just supporting half-baked material].
“Chiregai kungo bika nekungobika zvisina kuibva izvo zvakaibva Jah Prayzah akuitirai [People should follow a similar route and try to produce better quality]”.
The globetrotting Third Generation band frontman took time to thank his wife, Rufaro and parents who were present at the launch, before staging a stellar two-hour long performance.
“I want to thank my parents for their upbringing and teaching me culture and moulding me into what I am today,” Jah Prayzah said.
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The lanky musician has achieved a lot in the showbiz scene locally, from bagging dozens of awards to attracting full houses and he is on the verge of turning his fortunes on the international space.
The release of a smashing high quality Watora Mari video, featuring Tanzanian Diamond Platnumz, could be the answer to finally breaking new ground and give his art more impetus. When he got onto the stage in the early hours of yesterday, Musoja (his other moniker) did not disappoint, sending the whole auditorium into delirium, proving why the man-of-the-moment tag has remained with him for a long time.
Having invited Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa to his launch last year, the mysterious “Mdhara” referred to on the title of the album is not the person many people had expected in the buildup, but rather a self-praise gimmick.
Whatever the idea, his fans welcomed his new album with both hands.
Meanwhile, supporting artists Gary Tight and his father Willom were not to be outdone as they came out firing from all cylinders with a top-notch act that left many asking for more.
The Tight combo is surely a wonder and their forte blended so well that they appeared like brothers in a boy band.
Sam Dondo and his Impala Subway Crooners, however, failed to rise to the occasion, with a mediocre set which attracted little attention from the crowd. His inaudible voice added to the disaster, with his dancers trying to resuscitate it with electric dances to no avail.
Upcoming Afro-jazz artist Tammy of the Tsoka Ndibereke fame opened the dance floor with a polished act.
