Tuku’s efforts pay off
By Silence Charumbira
Showbiz Editor
That Oliver Mtukudzi is a superstar and a great mentor is not up for contestation as he has proven for years now what he is capable of.
Speak of his huge success on the regional and international scene and the several young musicians that he groomed through his Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton; there seems to be no stopping; at least not anytime soon.
In comes Mbeu; another product of Pakare Paye who seems to be clamoring for his own share of attention on the cut throat music scene.
Mbeu real Ashton Tapiwa Nyahora has had heads turning in the musical circles and already fitting the bill on several shows among them the opening of Time and Jazz Café two weeks ago as well as Jazz 24/7 on Thursday evening.
At the Monday night Jam Session at City Sports Bar, Mbeu had revelers grooving when he took to the stage in a set oozing with brilliance.
On a night that had been dominated by jittery sungura and mbira fusions, he stepped up and presented an exquisite set complemented by a clean sound with well pronounced acoustic notes that would probably match Tuku himself or the Cape Town based Max Musopero Vidima with his thumping guitar.
“From the beginning he (Tuku) has been there. He sees us going far and I am glad his advice is helping. He told me that I should define my music my way,” said the young musician.
And true to his assertion, his music is laced with fusions of rhumba and RnB among other genres; but he prefers to call it Mbeu music.
Born on September 30 1992, Mbeu started off his musical career with Tsvete, another Pakare Paye outfit before going solo at the end of 2015.
The young musician has several singles to his name among them Mavanga, Chawakandibira, Musiki and Chipapfu chemwoyo which he says is Kore kore for larger piece of the heart with the album expected in September.
“Chipapfu chemoyo is the larger part of the heart which is more or less the most important part the heart. The track is for a loved one who is being told that they are everything,” said Mbeu.
But why Mbeu?
“Mbeu comes from mhodzi and mhodzi births mbeu. It’s a cycle,” he said.
