Dearly beloved.
We have gathered here today to celebrate the wonder that is Oliver Mtukudzi on what would be his 73rd birthday.
Born on September 22, 1952, the late Zimbabwean superstar, actor, dancer, and singer gained widespread fame with his 1998 release of Todii and the film, Neria, a film that captivated audiences and became a cultural touchstone. His life was tragically cut short on January, 23 2019. Surely, Rufu Ndimadzongonyedze , pane vanodanana). Loosely translated as: (death is a sudden and u nexpected disruptor)
Tuku, whose music cuts across cultures and generations, was known for his humble and soft demeanour, and an illustrious career that spanned more than four decades.
He was the epitome of pop culture royalty, the pioneer of Zimbabwean pop music, a prolific singer and songwriter, a record producer, an actor, and more. He was, “our first post-everything pop star,” a figure who transcended categories of genre, race, gender, and commercial appeal.
Tuku’s career, spanning four decades, overflowed with iconic outfits, copious amounts of charm, unmissable stage presence, and bottomless talent. Guitar, vocals, percussion, you name it, he played it. Add to that an impossibly wide vocal range reaching up to falsetto and down to baritone, and music was truly his plaything, which is perhaps how he so comfortably morphed, advanced, and pioneered genres which all came together as Tuku music.
I could write a whole book on Tuku’s life, but here is just a touch of it.
Mtukudzi grew up in Highfield, Salisbury (modern-day Harare) in Rhodesia. He began performing in 1977 when he joined the Wagon Wheels, a band that also featured Thomas Mapfumo. and fellow guitarist James Chimombe. Their single Dzandimomotera went gold and Tuku's first album followed, which was also a major success. Mtukudzi was also a contributor to Mahube, Southern Africa’s “supergroup”.
- Macheso daughter follows father’s footsteps
- Macheso daughter follows father’s footsteps
- Chivaviro, Makhabane drop collabo
- Village Rhapsody: Winky D’s Eureka mirrors the state of Zimbabwe
Keep Reading
With his husky voice, Mtukudzi became the most recognised voice to emerge from Zimbabwe and onto the international scene and he earned a devoted following across Africa and beyond. A member of Zimbabwe’s Kore Kore ethnicity, with Nzou Samanyanga as his totem, he sang mostly in the nation’s dominant Shona language. He also incorporated elements of different musical traditions, giving his music a distinctive style, known to fans as Tuku Music.
Mtukudzi had a number of tours around the world. He was on several tours in the UK, US and Canada to perform for large audiences.
Prior to the independence of Zimbabwe, Mtukudzi’s music depicted the struggles under Rhodesian white minority rule.. In subsequent years following Zimbabwean Independence , his music advocated for tolerance and peace.
On January 23, 2019, Mtukudzi died at the age of 66 at Avenues Clinic in Harare, Zimbabwe after a long battle with diabetes mellitus.
After his death, many of his fans and music collaborators shared memorable photographs in which they posed with the artist. This shows that Tuku was indeed a man of the people.
But the greatest connection fans made with Tuku was through his music, starting with his 1978 debut solo album Ndipeiwo Zano, which was re-released in 2000 due to its iconic status. This strong connection to his music continued until his last offering Han’a (Concern) released in 2019.
There is no Oliver Mtukudzi without the ‘Tuku Music’ brand – an amalgamation of jazz and jiti and sung in Shona, Ndebele and English – which was key in garnering the artiste’s global fame.
Tuku wrote unforgettable songs that made him one of the biggest musicians’ names out of Africa, and arguably the biggest in Zimbabwe. He played abroad to millions of fans who will continue the Tuku legacy.
This month, Oliver Mtukudzi’s daughter,,Selmor Mtukudzi, honours the legacy of her father, with three special events in South Africa, Zambia and right here in Zimbabwe. by playing his music.
On Sunday, the 21st September, Selmor will be at Lake Chivero’s Wingate Boat Club, near Harare.
On the September 26, she will be in Lusaka, Zambia at the Alliance Francaise.
As his dedicated fans continue to mourn Tuku the world over, we continue to play his music as if it was released today.
I am certain that with the help of AI, we will continue to hear the incredible voice of Dr. Oliver Mtukudzi in the near future.
May his dear soul rest in eternal peace.
nFeedback: [email protected]
