No Birthday Celebrations For Tuku

According to his people at Pakare Paye centre Tuku, as he is affectionately known, has cancelled his annual birthday celebration shows held in and around the week of every 22nd September – his birthday anniversary – in respect of the passing on of his son Sam in March this year.

Earlier this year before the tragic death of his son, the maestro of music and respected international artist in his own right, announced a series of shows in Chitungwiza, Harare and Norton as part of his birthday festivities with many more gigs having been set for venues outside Harare.

“The birthday shows will no longer happen. We hope our invaluable fans and stakeholders will understand this development. “Tuku cancels September birthday shows in respect of the death of his son Sam this year.

“It’s a dark year (2010) for me following the death of my son in March. As such I can’t go on stage and say I am celebrating my birthday in the same year of Sam’s departure. But, yes, I can celebrate Sam’s life and remember him and his work together with the fans who loved him,” Tuku said through his publicist Shepherd Mutamba.

Tuku turns 58 on Wednesday 22nd September.

Sam (22) died in Harare on March 15 2010 when his car veered off the road and smashed into a bridge as he drove home to Norton on the Bulawayo highway. Killed in the same accident was Sam’s childhood friend Owen Chimhare, sound engineer in the group AY Band fronted by the younger Mtukudzi.