Mugabe might have minted a Z$100bn note that can't even buy a loaf of bread in Harare but the musical currency is still solid.

Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi, the 56-year-old guitar-playing pop singer, who grew in the shadow of the country's great rebel rousing singer Thomas Mapfumo, has, in his 30 year career, crafted his own musical signature. This combination of many African styles has grown into the sound named after him: tuku music.

Performing with a stripped down band, his charisma and persuasive voice shone even if his two-hour set was in danger of overplaying its hand with similar songs.

Inspired by Mapfumo's use of hypnotic rhythms driven by the mbira (thumb piano), Tuku's sound incorporates accurate and sensitive guitar plucking coupled with a soft, pitch-perfect voice that gives

Mtukudzi's music a unique quality. It isn't barrier-breaking in its inventiveness but his vocal warmth generously embraced the crowd.

Commanding centre stage, sporting a black trilby and white shirt, he picked at his guitar and shimmied his wiry frame flanked by two sassy female backing singers, who shook percussion or plucked at the mbira to keep the beat strong.

A bubbling rhythm section upped the pace halfway through to encourage the thin audience to dance. The whole six-piece band gave the most unexpected moments of musical pleasure by joining in the chorus with the band leader.

It was infectious enough to be taken up the cognoscenti in the audience - presumably also fluent in Shona his lyrical language of choice - who chanted the songs enthusiastically.

He refrained from any references to life in Zimbabwe although his introduction to his hit Todini ("What shall we do?") might have had the hint of criticism. "I have come to the conclusion there is no easy life," he said as he struck up the opening chords and pleased a crowd who were happy to be lost in his songs.

Oliver Mtukudzi headlines Zimfest at Raynes Park on 30 August.