GAINING experience and exposure are more important than money, superstar Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi’s manager Sam Mataure has said.
Report by Silence Charumbira
Mataure was speaking on the sidelines of their homecoming gig at Red Fox Hotel on Friday after having done 32 shows in two-and-a-half months.
Mtukudzi performed in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, United States, Canada and Japan during this period.
“It is never about money. Whether we are performing in Zimbabwe or outside the country,” Mataure said.
“You will be surprised that Tuku, at 61, and me, at 45, we had our first show in Japan just recently.
“We went there to push our brand and our music.
“No matter how big an artiste becomes, you still need to push the brand and reach out to new audiences.”
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Asked how much they made per performance, Mataure responded sarcastically asking this reporter how much he made a month.
“Look, we are musicians and just like you that is our job. It may be a trend that top musicians announce how much they make, but we are blacks and Zimbabweans. We do not announce our salaries. Who announces their salary anyway?” he quipped.
“It is not a financial issue. We have a booking agent who, as we speak, is making our bookings for our US-Canada tour in 2015.
“We go out there to push our music and meet new people. We appreciate the opportunity and we are grateful for the lots of experience that we pick up whenever we perform.”
Performing in a trio with Mataure and bassist Enoch Piroro, Tuku came onto the Red Fox Hotel stage just before midnight much to the chagrin of revellers who had started to fill up the venue for the show advertised to start at 8pm. But that did not take away the glitz of the event as Api Tee entertained the revellers with an energetic and hilarious act.
That it was a trio was not much of a case probably because of the well composed sound aided by the compactness of the venue.
After Tuku’s performance, it was back to the reggae affair with Mic Inity and Nadine Brown on stage.
Elsewhere, Peter Moyo had a good day in office on Friday at Hwenje’s Village in Glen Norah.
The young musician gave his fans value for their money with an energetic performance.
Alick Macheso’s show at Jongwe Corner in Hatfield was well-attended.
Samples of new songs from his forth coming album Zvaazvinhu sent the crowd into a frenzy.
At Club Matute in Mbare, Tryson Chimbetu had a bad day in office as most of his band members failed to turn up for the show which was advertised for Saturday instead of Friday.
In Kadoma, Tuku made a massive welcome back at a completely sold out show on Saturday.
In Mbare, young musician Tawanda Dhibhura left the fans awestruck when he performed at Blue Bar.
