Music icon Oliver Mtukudzi continued his outreach to schools last week by visiting music students at SOS Hermann Gmeiner High School, Bindura on June 18, where he gave a lecture.
BY ZVIKOMBORERO ZIMUNYA
Speaking on his 40-year career in the music industry, the Unicef Goodwill Ambassador told students that making music was an extension of himself.
“When I write music, I’m not doing a good composition to impress others. I am doing a good song that is an extension of who I am. I am just doing me.”
The music workshop was held in preparation for Singing with the Stars, a fundraising dinner co-hosted by SOS Children’s Villages Zimbabwe and African Sun Limited. The event will be held on June 27 with proceeds going to orphans and abandoned children supported by SOS Children’s Villages. Mtukudzi will do a pro-bono performance at the fundraiser including a performance with the SOS Children’s Villages Choir. The SOS Children’s Villages Choir is a combination of children from the SOS Children’s Villages, SOS Hermann Gmeiner schools and community outreach programmes from the various areas the organisation works in.
As part of its corporate social investment programme, African Sun Limited recently entered into a partnership with SOS Children’s Villages Zimbabwe. Whilst its Crowne Plaza Monomotapa subsidiary is sponsoring Singing with the Stars, Holiday Inn Harare (another subsidiary of African Sun Limited) will carry out a US$12 000 worth of refurbishment of seven family houses in the SOS Children’s Village in Waterfalls, Harare.
“This is Tuku’s way of giving back to the community . . . he has gained so much knowledge and experience over the years. These youngsters will greatly benefit from his wisdom,” said a spokesperson for TukuMusic.
The music students participating in the workshop also make up part of the SOS Children’s Villages Choir performing at Singing with the Stars.
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Mtukudzi encouraged artists to develop technical skills and learn to play instruments to produce a unique sound.
“I like technology and the use of musical software to produce music. But that software is designed for standard use so whatever you produce has a certain sameness to it. When you’re done, it’s just a demo and not a finished product. You need to actually go into the studio and play it out with various instruments to give it your own unique flavour.”
At the event, Mtukudzi also gave a practical demonstration of his artistry with a scintillating performance of Shamiso together with the SOS Hermann Gmeiner High Marimba band.
