Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi (September 22nd, 1952 – January 23rd, 2019) was a Zimbabwean musician, businessman, philanthropist, human rights activist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Southern Africa. Tuku was considered to have been Zimbabwe's most renowned and internationally recognised cultural icon of all time.
Mtukudzi began performing in 1977 when he joined the Wagon Wheels, a band that also featured Thomas Mapfumo. Their single "Dzandimomotera" went gold and Tuku's first album followed, which was also a major success. Mtukudzi contributed much towards the success of Mahube, Southern Africa's "supergroup".
With his husky voice, Mtukudzi became the most recognised voice to emerge from Zimbabwe and onto the international scene and he earned a devoted following across Africa and beyond. A member of Zimbabwe's KoreKore group, with Nzou Samanyanga as his totem, he sang in the nation's dominant Shona language along with Ndebele and English. He also incorporated elements of different musical traditions, giving his music a distinctive style, known to fans as Tuku Music. Mtukudzi had a number of tours around the world. He had been on several tours in the UK, US and Canada to perform before large audiences. In 2017, Mtukudzi entertained guests at the wedding of Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo.
Mtukudzi was a father to five children and a grandfather to two. Two of his children are also musicians. His son, Sam Mtukudzi, a successful musician in his own right, died in a car accident in March 2010. Mtukudzi was born in a family of six.
Discography
Albums
1978 Ndipeiwo Zano (re-released in 2000)
1979 Chokwadi Chichabuda
1979 Muroi Ndiani?
1980 Africa (re-released in 2000)
1981 Shanje
1981 Pfambi
1982 Maungira
1982 Please Ndapota
1983 Nzara
1983 Oliver's Greatest Hits
1984 Hwema Handirase
1985 Mhaka
1986 Gona
1986 Zvauya Sei?
1987 Wawona
1988 Nyanga Nyanga
1988 Strange, Isn't It?'
1988 Sugar Pie
1989 Grandpa Story
1990 Chikonzi
1990 Pss Pss Hallo!
1990 Shoko
1991 Mutorwa
1992 Rombe
1992 Rumbidzai Jehova
1992 Neria Soundtrack'
1993 Son of Africa
1994 Ziwere MuKobenhavn
1995 Was My Child
1996 Svovi yangu
1995 The Other Side: Live in Switzerland
1995 Ivai Navo
1997 Ndega Zvangu (re-released 2001)
1997 Chinhamwe
1998 Dzangu Dziye
1999 Tuku Music
2000 Paivepo
2001 Neria
2001 Bvuma (Tolerance)
2002 Shanda soundtrack
2002 Vhunze Moto
2003 Shanda (Alula Records)
2003 Tsivo (Revenge)
2004 Greatest Hits Tuku Years
2004 Mtukudzi Collection 1991–1997
2004 Mtukudzi Collection 1984–1991
2005 Nhava (Tolerance)
2006 Wonai
2007 Tsimba Itsoka
2008 Dairai (Believe)
2010 Rudaviro
2010 Kutsi Kwemoyo (compilation)
2011 Rudaviro
2011 Abi'angu (Duets of My Time)
2012 Sarawoga — Sarawoga laments the losses that the legend had to endure in his life, not least the loss of life. Thus he had been left 'alone' in a sense, hence the title Sarawoga (left alone).
2014 Mukombe Wemvura
2016 God Bless You - The Gospel Collection
2016 Eheka Nhai Yahwe!
2018 han’a (Concern)
Contributing Artist
1996 The Rough Guide to the Music of Zimbabwe (World Music Network)
1999 Unwired: Acoustic Music from Around the World (World Music Network)
2000 Unwired: Africa (World Music Network)
Filmography
Jit (dir. Michael Raeburn, 1990)
Neria (dir. Goodwin Mawuru, written by Tsitsi Dangarembga, 1993)
Mtukudzi starred in the movie and made the soundtrack
Shanda (dir. John and Louise Riber, 2002, rev. 2004)
Sarawoga, 2009, was written by Elias C. Machemedze, directed by Watson Chidzomba and produced by Oliver Mtukudzi, who also did the soundtrack for the film.
2012 Nzou NeMhuru Mudanga DVD, the live recording of a show, a theatrical performance which Tuku had with his son just weeks before his death.
Awards
1985–1988: One of The Best Selling Artists in Zimbabwe.
KORA Award for Best Arrangement in 2002, for Ndakuwara.
2002: SAMA Finalist (Best Traditional/African Adult Contemporary DVD) Live at the Cape Town Jazz Festival.
National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) in 2002 and 2004 for Best Group / Male vocalist
KORA Award for Best African male artist and Lifetime Achievement Award in August 2003.
Reel Award Winner for Best African Language in 2003.
An honorary degree from the University of Zimbabwe in December 2003.
NAMA Award 2003: Best Group/Artist.
NAMA Award 2004: Best Group/Artist.
NAMA Award 2005: National Arts Personality of the Year.
NAMA Award 2006: Outstanding Album (NHAVA).
2006: ZIMA (Best Music Ringing Tone Handiro Dambudziko).
2006: ZIMA (Music Ambassador).
NAMA Award 2007: Best Musician/Group.
2007: Cultural Ambassador – Zimbabwe Tourism Association.
NAMA Award 2008: (Outstanding Musician).
Honorary MSc (Fine Arts) Degree awarded by the Women's University in Africa in 2009.
M-Net Best Soundtrack Award in 1992, for Neria
2010: MTN SAMA Awards recognised his son's achievements in music.
2010: University of Zimbabwe (UZ) and The International Council of Africana Womanism (ICAW) Award: recognition of his luminary role in uplifting African women through his artistic work – music and a diversity of art forms – offered as community development at his arts academy at Pakare Paye in Norton.
2011: Titled Zimbabwe's first UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Eastern and Southern Africa.
2011: Honoured by the Government of Italy with the prestigious Cavaliere of the Order of Merit Award in recognition of his work as an international musician. (The award is what the Knighthood is to England).
2014 Honorary Doctorate (PHD) International Institute of Philanthropy.
2014 Honorary Doctorate from Great Zimbabwe University (GZU). Doctor of Philosophy in Ethnomusicology & Choreography (Honoris Causa).
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