I find songs in people: Tuku

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Walking music authority Oliver Mtukudzi has seen highs and lows in the music business and is joyously sharing the fruits of his journey with budding artists.

Walking music authority Oliver Mtukudzi has seen highs and lows in the music business and is joyously sharing the fruits of his journey with budding artists.

By Mashoto Lekgau

tuku-and-band

The Todii and Ndakuvara singer comes off as plain and relaxed. However, what he says and the sounds coming from the strings of his guitar are what he considers more important than his appearance.

Clad in a simple white shirt and black jeans, he speaks of how he managed to stay productive and relevant throughout the years — his method simply being originality and truth.

“As long as there are people, there is something to talk about — and if there is something to talk about, then there is something to sing about,” he says, smiling.

The 64-year-old singer may appear to be a simple man who likes swimming and taking morning walks with his wife, but there is more to him that separates him from the rest.

Tuku, as his fans affectionately call him, has seen and heard it all in the music industry — this after 41 years and 64 albums.

“I think I managed to keep myself relevant because of the umbrella that covers whatever I talk about in my music. That is self-discipline — it translates into respecting the next person. So that is what I talk about [in the music],” he says.

His new compilation album, titled God Bless You, follows his tradition of including two or three gospel songs in every album, and features both original and traditional compositions.

Despite all his success, he still works with the vigour of a beginner and is currently recording two collaboration albums with renowned trumpeter Hugh Masekela.

The two first met in 1982 at a club named Jobs in Harare. Mtukudzi was on stage performing and Masekela was in the audience. The trumpeter was so moved by the guitarist’s chords that he joined him on stage with his horn.

Mtukudzi was a fan but he did not know what Masekela looked like. It only made sense once the MC said Masekela was joining him on stage.

The musical camaraderie would go on for decades.

“On these up-coming projects, we are talking about inheritance and our heritage. Birds of a feather flock together.

We both believe in who we are and we make our own sound. For that reason, we don’t struggle to understand each other,” he says.

He is one to openly promote new talent but he is not happy with the direction the music industry is taking, especially the way songs are “composed”.

Mtukudzi’s parting shot to younger musicians is to be original, honest and refrain from sampling because “God won’t duplicate talent, there is only one you”.

“Life is not about competition, but about complementing each other.

“For you to be on this planet, there is a purpose for you. At times we fight God by suggesting what’s good for us — and by doing that, we forget what He gave us,” he adds.

“Creativity is dying, our new talent is going to waste because of short cuts. Youngsters google a song, loop the sample and call it composing a song. That is not it. That is using the brains of some German guy who made that and placing your lyrics on it.

“That is structuring, not composing music. As much as I love our media, I blame it on them. They push alien stuff and ignore who we are,” he lashes out.

Mtukudzi has an art centre — Pakare Paye — where he facilitates 110 youngsters to find their footing in the arts. —Sowetan LIVE