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Popularly known for his iconic throat clearing cough before serenading the next song, the late music legend Oliver “Tuku” Mutukudzi’s demise was commemorated today.
The music icon was well known for his dense compositions, characterised by a shifting tapestry of plunking guitars, hoarse lead vocals intermittently seasoned with sharp pricking backing vocals and a cross rhythm of the African drum.
Today marks five years since the demise of the musician legend, January 23, 2019 to be precise, the globe lost a musical icon succumbing to a long battle with diabetes at Avenues Clinic in Harare.
Tuku, an international recognized artiste became the first musician in Zimbabwe to be accorded the national hero status, the great honour that befits only hero’s that served the nation diligently. His body is resting in his rural home of Madziva, Bindura.
Continue to rest easy Samanyanga as you were affectionately known by your legions of fans globally.
Yours is a legacy of a true son of the soil who never traded his mic for anything except serving the nation sincerely doing what you knew best, entertaining revellers.
You may have departed from earth but your unique music lives on, with many covers being sang as tribute to your great works.
The legend recorded 66 albums which tally the number of years he survived.
Whenever Tuku performed the venues were always packed to brim and like always he would do justice, give fans value for money leaving them begging for more.
Apart from the fascinating performance on stage everything he touched would turn into gold. Talk of his collaboration with Zimdancehall artiste, Winky D on the track “Panorwadza moyo” his voice dignified the song, gave it meaning and value.
In the opening verse, Winky D starts the line as “Ndanzwa mhere kurira” and when Tuku comes in with an authoritative voice saying “mhere kurira” listeners actually feel a touch of magic. While the song progresses, no doubt many can agree that Samanyanga’s touch of class will ever be the best.
Love songs like “mbabvu yangu still melodiously grace wedding and lobola ceremonies today.
His music was also characterized by teachings on crucial aspects of life and culture with tracks like ‘tsika dzenyu’ where he advocated for our customs and traditions highlighting how they have been abandoned by the younger generations.
“Ngano dzedu dziye dzakaendepi? Tsika dzedu dziye dzakaendepiko? Kudya kwedu kuye kwakaendepi Nyevhe yedu iye yakaendepiko? . . . ”
Mutukudzi also featured a lot of upcoming artists which include Garry Mapanzure, Sam Mtukudzi among others.
Today Selma Mutukudzi paid tribute to her father and mentor by posting a copy of his lobola list on her social media platforms.
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