Tuku, Ismael Lo to bring Hifa curtain down

Oliver Mtukudzi

ZIMBABWEAN music legend Oliver Mtukudzi is billed to share the stage with his Senegalese counterpart, Ishmael Lo, at the closing ceremony of this year’s edition of the Harare International Festival of the Arts at the Telecel Main Stage in the Harare Gardens on Sunday May 6.

The event has been earmarked as a special occasion for the festival with the Zimbabwean music  doyen celebrating his 60th birthday. And to add to the thrill will be inclusion of the Senegalese music wizard who will have to wait for an extra day just to partner with Tuku for the momentous concert.

Lo will first stage his performance at the Hifa Main Stage on the evening of May 5 before joining the Zimbabwean legend the following night for the much-hyped Tuku birthday bash. This will be the second time that the Senegalese guitarist, harmonica player and singer will share the stage with Tuku at Hifa after their 2004 joint act, which left many a music fan in awe and asking for more.

Tuku and Lo have a lot in common . . . they are both towering music figures on the African continent with a unique sound that is rich and infectious, rhythms and messages that cut across boundaries. Tafadzwa Simba, an official from Hifa, described the concert as a special tribute to Tuku’s music excellence.

“We are glad to announce that Ishmael Lo will stay for an extra day after his performance on  saturday night to join his compatriot Oliver (Mtukudzi) for a performance on Sunday at the Telecel Main Stage. “The show, that will start at 8:30pm and expected to end at around 9:45pm, is meant to celebrate Tuku’s 60th birthday.

“People should expect a sensational musical experience and moving tribute to one of the great icons of Zimbabwean music. “Oliver has been a great friend to the festival and to the Zimbabwean artistic community as a whole and we are thrilled to present this concert as a special tribute to his 60th birthday,” Simba said. 

Members of the United States music group, Publish The Quest, will join Tuku and Lo on stage during the concert. Tuku’s music journey has seen him rise to become one of Zimbabwe and Africa’s leading performers over the years, amassing numerous accolades along the way, the latest being Unicef’s Goodwill Ambassador.Lo, on the other hand, launched his solo music career in the mid-80s and became an instant hit in his country.

The two African music giants are expected to live lasting impressions at this year’s edition of Hifa that will kick-off on May 1 under the theme “A Show of Spirit”. Meanwhile, the opening show is also expected to attract a lot of interest just like any other previous edition.