Oliver Mtukudzi graces NAF

by Mudiwa Mupotsa (FJP reporter)

Oliver Mtukudzi

Audiences are set to receive a powerful performance from Oliver Mtukudzi as he takes the stage at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.

The first performance is at DSG Hall, at 19:30 on Friday 4July. The man nicknamed ‘Tuku’ by his fans will be performing some of his favourite songs.  ”They are my favourites, if they were not my favourites I would not be performing them,” he said.

Audiences may also have the chance to listen to unreleased tracks during his performance depending on how the evening goes, “I am not the type of artist who prepares a list of songs to deliver. I play the first song and see where it goes from there,” said Mtukudzi.

The show will thus be truly driven by the crowd. Tuku spoke about how the crowd energy is what keeps him going and helps him deal with the stress of being on tour, “it’s nothing to do with the place [in the world]. It’s the relationship with the people. Never mind the place in the world where you are- the stage is the best place to be,” said Mtukudzi.

Despite his short stay Tuku has had the chance to experience some of what the National Arts Festival has to offer, seeing the Tucan Tucan show on 3 July at 19:00.

He spoke about how as an artist he is experimental and believes in collaboration with other artists and when asked if he had any favourites spoke with true diplomacy, “the problem with these artists is that they are all so unique and different- what this one has, this one doesn’t. I end up comparing them to myself, they have a lot of what I don’t have [laughs]. We are all so different,” he said.

The Festival performances are not all fans have to look forward to. Tuku starts production on a short story written by Watson Chimbodza in the next few weeks, has an international tour coming up and has no plans to discontinue producing music any time soon.

Repeat performance Saturday 5 July 22:00 DSG Hall.

Pic: Mudiwa Mupotsa