‘‘Why do we sing, why is there art? Art is to give life and hope to the people. Art is for healing broken hearts. Like in Zimbabwe, you don’t sing a song when you have nothing to say.’’ – Oliver Mtukudzi
On 23 January 2019, Oliver Mtukudzi, whose singing and guitar playing harnessed influences from across Southern Africa to create the most popular musical style in Zimbabwe, died at the age of 66 in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. A record executive and promoter who had worked with Mtukudzi for more than 20 years, Damon Forbes, said the cause was heart failure related to diabetes.
Oliver Dairai “Tuku” Mtukudzi was born on 22 September 1952, and grew up in Highfield, Salisbury (now Harare), in the then Ian Smith-ruled Southern Rhodesia, which together with South Africa were notorious of being governed by racist white settler regimes. His father died just as Mtukudi was entering adulthood. He then took a job at a bookstore to support his family, while he filled every idle moment practicing on the guitar that a musician had given him after noticing his preternatural ability. He began performing in 1977 when he joined the Wagon Wheels, a band that also featured Thomas Mapfumo, nicknamed the “Lion of Zimbabwe”, and fellow guitarist James Chimombe.
The Wagon Wheels were given the rare opportunity by Paul Tangi Mhova Mkondo, an African nationalist, entrepreneur and music promoter, who provided money and resources to the group. Mkondo allowed the group to
