Tuku to headline UK festival

Dubbed Thriller in the UK, this year’s festival will also feature Winky D, Fungisai Zvakavapano and Jah Prayzah. Launched in 2009 and hosted by Y2K Entertainment, the SAMA Festival is renowned for bringing southern African and African diaspora musicians to perform on the same stage.

The organisers said the festival was designed to connect African artists, push boundaries and promote southern African music, arts and culture.

“Showcasing the cultural talents and beauty of Africa is our No 1 priority,” they said. “Africa is a huge continent and is overflowing with unique talent and cultures, which we want to share with the world. With a focus on southern Africa, we want to take this to higher heights. Hosting SAMA in Leicester and London is so important to us. We cannot wait.”

The performances are expected to be a crowd-puller considering Mtukudzi, Winky D, Zvakavapano and Prayzah’s popularity with Zimbabwean expats in the UK. This is not the first time Mtukudzi and Prayzah have performed at the festival. Last year, the two artists were joined by Selmor Mtukudzi, Tendai Manatsa and Tocky Vibes.

Mtukudzi, who has released 57 albums since he began performing in the 1970s, was at the weekend in Zambia where he headlined Zamfest. Other artists who shared the stage with him included Oskido (South Africa), Patience Namadingo (Malawi) and Evicted (Zimbabwe).

Owned by Zimbabwean promoters Alex Marapara and Fred Matenga, Y2K Entertainment is a UK brand that was established in 2000 and has to date consistently delivered international events across Zimbabwe and the UK.

For more information, visit the event's official website.