Legendary Oliver Tuku Mtukudzi was three in one!
He was a great performer, an artist and entertainer par excellence — all in one. Such feat in music industry is extraordinary.
It’s a pity Tuku died after his son Sam who was his natural successor but as fate would have it he passed in 2015 way before his father.
There have been gaps within the Zimbabwean music scene with fans asking who would perhaps be the next Tuku or at least a superstar of his stature.
As the search continues from among the new crop of musicians it is amazing how few have dared to fill in the void with authentic sound. Some flip flop mixing pop, traditional and what have you but it appears one youngster is his own man and is poised for superstardom.
Yes, Tuku was three in one and there are not many artists who have all these three including the likes of Mbeu whose real name is Ashton Nyahora (28) who is following in the footsteps of the granddad of music.
Mbeu does not hide it that he was inspired by the great Tuku.
Mbeu, which means the seed, is one artist whose humility on and off stage will take him far and wide for as long as he doesn’t change.
Last Friday, he brought the curtain down on Music in Africa Live Series at Theatre in the Park, the ceremonial home of local plays.
It was such a great performance and a showstopper.
Mbeu and his four member piece band turned up the volume and mesmerized the colourful crowd (the type you get to see at the Harare International Festival of the Arts) that attended the show.
He strummed his acoustic guitar like his life depended on the show and he pushed himself further in more ways than one.
And he was all over the stage dancing with fans while strumming the guitar and enjoying himself to the fullest.
Although the night was still young Mbeu ended the show in style after introducing his band members to the largely appreciative fans. Mbeu plays the acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Ron Mhundwa affectionately known as El Basso on bass, Tawanda Ndoro on lead guitar (T1), Carlton Ndapasowa aka Smosh on keyboard and last but not least Nigel Matope aka Tip Tom on drums.
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