[THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Oliver and his band weren't allowed into Seattle due to a mix-up on which category of visa was required for performance, and which working visas the band had applied for already. This event has been moved to a tentative date in May, and the Anzanga Marimba Ensemble and Naomi Wachira will use this date for their benefit show. This listing previously stated incorrectly that the band's working visas were denied. After receiving updated information, this listing has since been corrected.]

Zimbabwe has only two global-level Afropop stars. One is, of course, Thomas Mapfumo, and the other is Oliver Mtukudzi, who performs tonight with Anzanga Marimba Ensemble and Naomi Wachira. Mtukudzi, like Mapfumo, is a master musician, has recorded lots and lots of albums and hits, and represents the great future that the small, landlocked country failed to realize after the War of Independence. Mapfumo’s best tune is “Shumba” (“Lion”) and Mtukudzi’s is “Seiko” (“I’m Just Asking Why”). The beauty of the sadness in that tune has no equal in Zimbabwean culture. CHARLES MUDEDE