JOHANNESBURG – It is not always that two of Zimbabwe’s greatest musicians get together on stage one being based in the far-flung USA and the other home.

^ Old boys meet - Tuku and Mukanya performing at Carnival City in Johannesburg

Tuku and Mukanya walked side by side into the Carnival City’s Big Top Arena in Johannesburg, Saturday night.

Each man carried his acoustic guitar waving at over 4 000 fans. They sat on stage side by side.A proud Zimbabwean fan in the audience waved the Zimbabwean flag.

Behind the wild cheers greeting the two icons were clear heavy nostalgic memories evoked by the rare appearance of the two heavies together.

Between the two artistes one could feel them reliving their 1970s chemistry when they played together in the Wagon Wheels.
When the roar died down Mukanya’s husky voice bellowed as he opened the lines of his new but yet to be recorded song Are You Ready For The Music with Tuku interchanging in the choruses.

Tuku was at Carnival City for the inaugural One Night in Africa concerts that will be featuring many other artistes in future. But the show also celebrated the release of Tuku’s new duets CD Abi’angu – Duets of my Time.

The album is a compilation of magical duets and collaborations featuring the likes of Cesaria Evora, Ringo, Jaziel Brothers, Siphokazi, Judith Sephuma, Kudzai Sevenzo, WillomTight among others.

Earlier on Saturday Tuku and Mukanya had met and caught up on the past. They talked and laughed a lot before going into rehearsal together for their performance.

Mukanya was visiting Johannesburg to promote his latest album Exile. And so here was an opportunity for old friends to hook up on stage for old times’ sake.

Below are scenes from Carnival City. – Shepherd Mutamba / tukumusik.com