By Own Correspondent.
London, England. (News of The South) – ZIMBABWE’s music legend Oliver Mtukudzi also popularly known as Tuku passed on January 23 in the capital city Harare after a long battle with diabetes.
Mtukudzi was 66 years old and leaves behind his wife Daisy and children. His death comes after he lost his son Sam, also a musician, who died in a car accident on March 15, 2010 while driving home to Norton.
For his illustrious career the government of Zimbabwe has bestowed him the National Hero status, an accolade awarded to outstanding Zimbabweans who are buried at the country’s National Heroes Acre. Tuku is among those declared National Heroes who won’t be buried there. Instead, he will be buried in Madziva, Mt Darwin.
Mtukudzi’s music career spanned more than 40 years, time which he released more than 60 music albums and toured all over the world representing Zimbabwe.
The music star was among those urban musicians who during the 1970s liberation war to free Zimbabwe were in the forefront of composing classic militant songs that inspired young Zimbabwean blacks to join the war. His music, prophetic and proverbial had hidden messages that aroused revolutionary sentiment across the country.
Classic songs Rova Ngoma Mutavara (Beat the drum fellow country man, Nyara Mwanawe (Do not cry) and Chido Chenyu Here? (Is this your wish?) rallied the masses.
At Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, Mtukudzi released the album Africa which became a soundtrack in celebrating Black independence. Africa produced two politically inspired songs Zimbabwe and Madzongonyodze. He followed Africa with yet another telling albumMuroyi Ndiyani?
The years that came after these releases were as fruitful to Mtukudzi and for his former manager of more than 15 years, Debbie Metcalf.
Mtukudzi released more than 60 music albums among them the popular Shanda, Bvuma/Tolerance, Tuku Music, Neria, Vhunze Moto and Paivepo. Most of his releases were manufactured in South Africa where the musician has a big following. Tuku Music his biggest selling music album was recorded at Ikwezi Studio in Johannesburg.
He has recorded countless collaborations with local upcoming musicians and has also recorded duets with international music stars.
In 2000 Mtukudzi was among established musicians who took part in the production of a government song that promoted the idea of a new constitution.
Mtukudzi’s politically charged 2000 albumBvuma/Tolerance was a protest voice as it was evident from the songs which warned politicians of the difficult times ahead if people were not united.
His song Wasakara (you are worn out) was a hit as it seemed to point at the former president Robert Mugabe then in his 70s as a spent force who should pave the way for new blood.
While Mtukudzi denied that the song referred to Mugabe, he sang: “…Admit it… you are wrinkled…worn out…” Mtukudzi sang.
During the 2000s he released his 44th albumVhunze Moto (Burning embers). On the album’s cover is a flame engulfing the map of Zimbabwe. And he sings: “…Even embers are fire…why wait until it’s a huge flame…you have made the fire…”
Another critical song by Mtukudzi is Wenge Mambo (behaving like a king) which was released in 2001. The song refers to politicians who view themselves as ‘kings’ and he says to please a witch give him human flesh as he thirsts for blood.
Born in Harare in 1952 Mtukudzi began singing seriously in school and church choirs at age 10. He taught himself how to play the guitar by copying pop songs from the radio.
In 1977 he joined the legendary Wagon Wheels which featured Thomas Mapfumo and later left the band to form his own group, Black Spirits.
Although the musician has participated in several documentaries on Zimbabwean music and culture including the BBC’s Under Afrikan Skies and The Soul of the Mbira, it was in 1990 that he played the lead role in Jit. The film was released in Denmark, France and the United Kingdom.
In 1993 Mtukudzi and his band took part in Denmark’s Images of Africa Festival. Mtukudzi followed the success of Jit with the role of Neria’s brother in Zimbabwe’s second feature film Neria for which he also wrote the soundtrack. A serious drama dealing with the thorny issue of women’s rights in a chauvinist world, Neria earned Mtukudzi the coveted M-Net Best Soundtrack Award in 1992.
Mtukudzi went on to write and direct the live musical production Was my Child which highlighted the plight of street children in Zimbabwe. In 2003 he released a feature documentary film Shanda which chronicles his life and work.
Mtukudzi also worked with a grouping of 12 Southern Africa musicians known as Mahube that released its debut self-titled album Music from Southern Africa in 1999. Internationally renowned musician Bonnie Raitt recorded the song One Belief Away on her album Fundamentalwhich was inspired by Mtukudzi’s song What’s Going On?
For his musical prowess Mtukudzi won several music awards at Zimbabwe’s Tinotenda Siyabonga Music Awards (TSAMA) in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. He has won the South African Kora awards on two occasions.
Mtukudzi is among Zimbabwe’s most travelled musicians and has toured United Kingdom, United States of America and South Africa.
He has received a number of international accolades including the prestigious Cavaliere awarded by the Italian President. Mtukudzi also received the South African Kora award for ‘Best Arrangement in 2002’ for his song, Ndakuvara.
The lanky music superstar was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Zimbabwe in December 2003. In 2009 the Women’s University in Africa awarded Mtukudzi an Honorary M.Sc (Fine Arts) degree in recognition of his work in the music industry.
Mtukudzi the philanthropist
In Zimbabwe Mtukudzi had been a shining example of a true humanitarian, a philanthropist who has dedicated most of his entire life to help foster social change through his music.
Mtukudzi was associated with the Diabetics Association of Zimbabwe and worked with patients at Chinhoyi Hospital and performed for free to raise funds for diabetics.
In August 2011 Oliver Mtukudzi was in Kampala, Uganda for a concert meant to benefit cancer patients where he performed at the Kamapla Serena Hotel alongside local songstress Suzanne Awiyo. The concert would benefit cancer patients of the Bless a Child Foundation. ”
In 2011, Mtukudzi was appointed as the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) Regional Goodwill Ambassador for eastern and southern Africa. Tuku was given the honour at a ceremony to mark the Day of the African Child on June 16, at the Unicef Offices in Belgravia, Harare.
Announcing the appointment, Unicef Country Representative in Zimbabwe, Dr Peter Salama said Mtukudzi has made bold endeavours in using his talent to improve the lives of children and young people.
“In his 20-year musical career Tuku has demonstrated a genuine commitment to communicating strong and clear messages about the importance of children and young people’s rights, including their right to live free from HIV and Aids,” said Salama.
By being accorded this child rights advocate role, Tuku joined the list of well-known and highly respected personalities all over the world including child rights advocates, sports, music, and performing and film artists who are serving in this capacity.
Unicef has a strong presence in over 150 countries as well as through 36 national committees in the industrialised world.
In 2012, Mtukudzi and the late mbira songbird Chiwoniso Maraire collaborated with international organisation, Medecins Sans Frontiers, MSF during the World Aids Commemoration day in Harare. The event coincided with MSF’s launch of the DVD, Positive Generation: Voices for an Aids Free Future.
The international humanitarian organisation used music by Mtukudzi and Chiwoniso to fight the HIV pandemic and stigma associated with the disease.
In 2012 Zimbabwe-German Society appointed Mtukudzi as Ambassador of ‘Acoustic Night All Stars European Tour’ in March. The tour was facilitated by the Zimbabwe-German Society and Wildlife Events.
Mtukudzi was among eight renowned African musicians featured on a 2010 campaign song titled 8 Goals for Africa, an initiative launched by United Nations agencies working in development.
The songs calls for commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals – a set of eight internationally agreed UN goals to reduce poverty, hunger, disease and maternal and child deaths by 2015.
The other African musicians include Yvonne Chaka Chaka from South Africa, Unicef Goodwill Ambassador Angelique Kido from Benin, Eric Wainaina from Kenya, Baaba Maal from Senegal and the Soweto Gospel Choir from South Africa.
Pakare Paye Arts Centre
In 2004 Mtukudzi started building Pakare Paye Art Centre in Norton, 40 kilometers west of the capital city, Harare.
The arts centre is a world class showbiz and arts facility built on a spacious ground and offers state of the art facilities, hence a distinguishable venue for the performing arts and conferencing.
The centre has four facilities where to stage showcases – a fully air-conditioned auditorium that accommodates up to 300 fans and can also be used for conferencing and other social events.
Adjoining the auditorium is the out-door’s main stage overlooking an open space and this can accommodate 3 000 fans and, it comprises some restrooms, bar and catering.
High-profile musicians come to stage shows on this stage and it is where Mtukudzi’s annual Solo Fest usually takes place.
The main stage has greenrooms, change rooms and bathrooms for artists, state-of-the-art lighting and sound proofing which makes it a professional facility.
A few metres away to the western side is the Sam Mtukudzi Conference Centre that accommodates 2 500 fans. The conference centre, which is fully air-conditioned, is a multi-purpose facility for the performing arts, conferencing and other social events such as weddings and religious congregations. The backstage comprise change rooms, greenrooms and restrooms.
Outdoors is a garden of indigenous trees and flowers and a sculpture park.
Adjoining the conference centre is the lounge used for musical shows and has a full bar and catering and a garden. The lounge is a favourite for families because of its garden and plasma screens with digital television offering a full bouquet of international channels.
At the extreme western end are lodges offering overnight accommodation for 21 couples. Artists performing at the centre have used the lodges. The rooms are fully air-conditioned and have digital television and a garden and sculpture park where guests can relax in a tranquil and private environment.
Tuku’s wife runs Daisy’s Kitchen, a restaurant accommodating up to 60 diners and offers full menus of a variety of dishes, cocktails and an assortment of refreshments at affordable prices.
Pakare Paye Arts Centre coordinates the annual Pakare Paye Solo Festival which takes place every year where musicians perform solo.
Several young artistes that have passed through the solo festival mentorship programme are doing fairly well with their individual careers, among them Munya Mataruse and Donald Kanyuchi.
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