Go well, Samanyanga! Fambai zvakanaka! You have left us
with troubled hearts and souls. We will remember you day and night as we mourn
and simultaneously celebrate a great life you lived, not only for yourself, but
for the community at large. It’s also a painful fact that you are
irreplaceable.
I find an
obituary as one of the hardest assignments anyone can be tasked to do. It’s
always an agonising experience, a dark patch no one would want to stay in for
long. While one mourns, they are also trying to capture the career highlights
of the departed gallant son of the soil, which they want to share with the
world in the heat of the moment.
This is the ordeal that I find myself in. I am trying to turn into two
typed pages, a life of 66 music albums spanning five decades and a decent
global influence. Where do I start from on the life of Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi?
What can I say about him in two pages without short-changing his true account?
The
best narrative I can say about Tuku’s history involves his alter-ego in the
music industry, Thomas Mapfumo, better known by his totem Mukanya. The two were
undoubtedly the best super stars that Zimbabwe ever had. They would meet, part
ways, perform together and rejoin as they kept pumping out great music to
soothe Zimbabwe’s ears.
As an example of the way life was in Tuku and Mukanya’s
world, it had been 14 long years of absence from Zimbabwe. Mukanya missed home
and the fans at home also missed him. He had to be home by Independence Day in
2018. The dates were set for his welcome back concert. While the supporting
acts had not been finalised, discussions were underway. We made sure to pick
only the best supporting acts for the welcome back gig.
We set up a meeting in Johannesburg, South
Africa. I was the face of Chimurenga Music Company (CMC), while promotion
company Entertainment Republic was represented by Max Mugaba and Tendai Jones.
When I arrived
at the venue of the rendez vous, I was shocked to meet two young
men said to be the ones organising Mukanya’s welcome back gig. What a historic
feat! For years, attempts had been made by various music promoters to bring
Mukanya to perform at home, but to no avail. At one point, flamboyant
businessman Phillip Chiyangwa was quoted by one newspaper declaring that he was
bringing the legendary artiste back to Zimbabwe, but that went nowhere. Even
former Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara tried to cajole Mukanya, but his
efforts did not yield results.
Many other
promoters tried, but in vain. So, as I sat there discussing about Mukanya’s
historic return gig, Mugaba then said: “Cde, we have Tuku as the main
supporting act. We met him in person and are excited that he said yes!”
This was the best news ever and I couldn’t
wait to break it. For me, it had always been a dream to have Mukanya and Tuku
share the stage and even put up a song together as the two remaining legends
(still active musicians). These were two musicians that met four decades ago at
Chogugudza’s studio in Mbare. From there, they were in the same band the Wagon
Wheels Band for a short stint. Later, each of them would embark on solo
careers.
It was at
Chogugudza’s studio that the friendship began and it blossomed forever. The
years to follow were characterised by tension, with various imagined or
manufactured theatrics and public opinions of fictitious alleged bad blood
between the two. Some even tried comparing the two, as they fought hard to pick
the better one.
Those days, jokes were made about two of their
songs, Mukanya’s Shiri Yakanaka and Tuku’s Chirimupoto.
Before that, Mukanya had sung Madhebhura, while Tuku had
offered Vanobvongodza Muto. There were also narratives that Mukanya
had mocked Tuku over the song Chirimupoto as having lacked
substance and creativity. But Mukanya denied ever having made such comments and
insisted people had ulterior motives to divide him and his long time.
Consequently, some music fans, instead,
trashed Mukanya’s Shiri Yakanaka, which they described as his worst
composition, which they said was so divorced from his Chimurenga genre due to
its lack of depth and desultoriness. However, there would never be any public
response or comments attributed to Tuku regarding Mukanya’s alleged words. They
let the fans go on in their bliss as the music kept pumping.
Despite all
the gauzy accusations, Tuku continued reaching out to Mukanya, whom he regarded
as his real elder brother in trade. That was despite the random concern from
Mukanya that Tuku had bowed to Zanu PF, for instance on his performance at the
controversial million man march.
Also, despite Mukanya’s several interviews
expressing concerns on Tuku’s loyalty to Zanu PF, the latter remained quiet,
instead wishing Mukanya was home for support. Surprisingly, Mukanya was never
labelled MDC despite some open association with some MDC politicians.
In 2015, one Zanu PF legislator attended
Mukanya’s show as a patron of CMC show in South Africa. The patron was even
accused by then First Lady Grace Mugabe of being a traitor. But still, Tuku had
no time to make comments or judge his brother.
Instead, he opted to pretend to know no
political party as he clearly understood the environment that he was working
under. Any proven acts of disobedience to the government could have cost him
and his career.
Many other
stories of bad blood between the two dominated the media. I do recall one
journalist sending me questions for Mukanya to respond, asking him if, indeed,
it was true that relations between the two were bad. Mukanya laughed it off and
alluded in vernacular “vanhu ava vanoda kutirwisanisa, Oliver ihama yangu
takabva kure” (people always want to create fights between us, Oliver is my
friend and we came a long way).
In many other interactions, Mukanya would
always refer to the day he met Tuku at Sekuru Chogugudza’s recording studio,
and how they joined hands as part of the Wagon Wheels. Mukanya recollected that
the first time he met Tuku, he was singing in English, but advised him to use
the vernacular language.
“He had his song, Green for Go and Red
for Stop, and I then gave him one of my songs Tamba Hako Marujata,
a folk song I had done in my own way, and it later became a hit with the
title Rova Ngoma Mutavara,” Mukanya quipped on one of my
discussions with him.
It’s also interesting to note that Tuku would meet his first wife Melody
Murape at Thomas Mapfumo’s show in Highfield in 1977. This brief account of
events are a testimony that the two came a long way.
So, as
we planned for the Big Bira. I was excited that finally, the two legends were
going to collaborate on the same stage. A trip to Zimbabwe was then planned for
me for the following day, February 9, 2018. I was to convene a press conference
announcing the dates and the Big Bira programme.
It was at this event that Tuku’s manager
Walter Wanyanya and I agreed to organise a visit by Mukanya and his family to
Tuku’s Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton upon his arrival for the Big Bira.
Wanyanya also confided in me that Tuku had cancelled his scheduled tour outside
Zimbabwe to be part of the Big Bira.
On the
mid-morning of April 24, we landed Pakare Paye. The trip was important in two
aspects: firstly, after my discussion with the band manager Austin Sibanda and
CMC lawyer Tapiwa Kapurura, we planned to have Mukanya add his voice on dendera
musician Sulumani Chimbetu’s song Dzokai Mukanya; second, we also
wanted to take the opportunity for Mukanya and Tuku to do a collaboration together.
This was after Sibanda had already agreed with Wanyanya. The said collaboration
was reaffirmed by Sibanda and Mukanya himself, during a press conference held
on April 23 at Crowne Plaza Hotel in the capital.
So we arrived
at Pakare Paye slightly earlier than Sulu, who together with his entourage
arrived 30 minutes later. We briefed Mukanya that all was set and the studio
was ready for the much-hyped and publicised collaboration. Sadly, on the last
minute, it never materialised.
Mukanya had suddenly been attacked by a
terrible bout of flu which affected his voice. He even feared for his upcoming
performance. A physician was called in fast. Mukanya then assured Sulu that he
could probably listen to the track afterwards before adding his voice. Sulu would
then have to send the track to Mukanya’s producer in Oregon in the United
States to facilitate the collaboration.
The mishap did
not affect their (Mukanya and Sulu) relationship. We all left the studio for
lunch to be hosted by Tuku at one of the restaurants at Pakare Paye. Mukanya’s
younger brother William Mapfumo, Sibanda the band manager, Garry Tight, Sulu
and the late Edmos Pazvakavambwa.
There, we were treated to first-class four
course meals as we talked and laughed like we were having a farewell party. I
captured the moments as Tuku and Mukanya went down memory lane talking about
their experiences at Sekuru Chogugudza’s studios in Mbare in the early ’70s.
I also got the opportunity to ask the two
about the mystery behind the $7 story which Tuku was paid after a
performance at one of the night clubs back then in the ’70s. They both laughed
it off, with Tuku saying: “Bhule chimbomira izvozvo, husiku ihwohwo takafara.”
Mukanya was even surprised and asked me who had told me that story. No answer
was given to that question that night, but only laughters.
As Mukanya was in the studio with Sulu, Pakare
Paye marketing manager Watson Chidzomba invited me and Sibanda into his
offices. Chidzomba warmly welcomed us and told us that Tuku was excited ahead
of the Big Bira.
“I will tell you that he has been rehearsing
every day and he can’t wait for the day,” Chidzomba quipped. His words were
quite emotional, and it showed how Tuku valued his relationship with Mukanya.
This was a man who had cancelled his tour for Mukanya.
In February 2018, the band manager made a
phone call to Wanyanya and Tuku, who were en route to South Africa for some
gigs. It was then that Tuku assured and confirmed that he was going to cancel
his tour to be part of the Big Bira. According to Sibanda, Tuku said: “This is
something that I have to do for my brother as a big welcome home.”
In Harare at the Glamis Arena, Tuku would join hands with Mukanya on stage
as an act of solidarity. That night, Tuku poured out his soul and love as he
danced in good cheer. Little did everyone know that it was a farewell dance
driven by God to prove their life long camaraderie?
Eight months later, when Mukanya
returned to Zimbabwe in December for the Peace Tour, he instructed me to call
Wanyanya so that we can arrange a possible visit to Norton to see Tuku and
possibly do the collaboration. On December 13 I conveyed the message to
Wanyanya via WhatsApp and to my surprise, he responded by
saying: “Tanga tichitotaura nezvazvo (we were discussing it). We
are in SA, back Monday night, so any time after that is bho (ok),
we will work it out.”
But as they say, “procrastination is the thief
of time”, we procrastinated and, sadly, Tuku passed on before we could visit
again and do the historic collaboration.
In his career,
Tuku played almost everything, cutting across from country, mbaqanga, reggae,
sungura, rock n roll, gospel, pop, Zimdancehall to urban grooves just to
mention but a few. He was a versatile all-weather and all-style musician, who
would sing with everyone and sing everything and anything.
This is what made Tuku endear with everyone,
every generation, class, religion, every tribe, every nationality and, indeed,
he became a giant in Africa and the world over. Just like Mukanya, Tuku was
accommodative and full of humour.
I recall
during the tour at Pakare Paye while I was taking pictures, my phone had a
funny cranky sound resembling ancient cameras when taking photos. Tuku dropped
a funny line to me: “Bhule, phone yako yakapenga mufana wangu, inoita kuti
shwaa semunhu arohwa mbama.”
Tuku had a
love-and-hate relationship with Zanu PF, his compositions were subtle, it was
not easy to understand his lyrics. Songs like Bvuma (reference
to then President Robert Mugabe’s old age), Ngoromera (song against political
violence), Mhopo Pamusana and Tozeza Baba, among
other compositions, were all punches directed at the ruling class, but they
never got to be understood. That was a true mark of an artiste, he left it to
the listeners to analyse and interpret.
Tuku was a powerful musician who sang
consistent themes packed with lethal punches. His songs were subject to a
thousand translations, but in essence, he was hitting hard on the regime. A
classic example was Tozeza Baba, which many would interpret as a
mark of the effects of domestic violence, and yet it was a direct reference to
Mugabe’s misrule.
He acted like a drunken father who made life
horrible for his Zimbabwean family. Such songs exonerated Tuku from the regime,
as they made him appear like just a social commentator, yet he attacked them in
their midst.
Tuku had a
gift of singing political comments laced with social commentary. He would, at
random, cunningly pass adverse comments on the regime. Other songs likeNhava
Izere Mhepo (the bag is full of air, it’s empty) was sang in reference
to Zanu PF’s empty promises and failure to tap foreign aid from supposed
friends as people suffered.
While people celebrated Tuku as a non-political commentator by
singing Nhava Izere Mhepo, Mukanya opted to be militaristic with
no-holds-barred songs likeMamvemve (country in tatters).
The
story of the two simply reminds us of the various talents the two artistes
carried. Each went the other way, but would meet as Tuku sang Pota neko
tisangane tiwadzane sembariro.
He was a man of the people. He sang to
entertain and inspire. Today, the world mourns. A son has been lost. We cry.
Tears may dry, but memories will remain fresh. The elephant, Samanyanga, has
left us with a solid history to be talked about for generations to come.
You used your voice and guitar to change the world. Both enemy and friend
now turn swords into ploughshares as they ponder on your cryptic lyrics. As you
also sang with James Chimombe “Ini newe ngatiimbe”, you unified us all
through your creativity and powerful use of words.
Your music taught us love and laughter,
care and concern. You were, you are and shall always be our hero and our senior
superstar. Rest is peace son of the soil.Chizororai zvenyu muKorekore.
Tasvitsa manja pachiKorekore. Pangu pese ndasakura ndazunza! Fambai mushe Nzou.
Blessing Vava writes from Chipinge, He can be contacted on blessingvava@gmail.com
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