Tuku the versatile, all weather and all style musician (Obituary)


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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