AFRICA and the rest of the world on Wednesday joined Zimbabweans in mourning the death of music legend Oliver Mtukudzi, who passed on in Harare at the age of 66.
The music superstar died this afternoon at the Avenues Clinic in Harare.
Tuku died exactly a year after his friend South African icon Hugh Masekela, who passed on 0n 23 January 2018. Mtukudzi was hospitalised in December after falling ill.
Affectionately known as Tuku, Mtukudzi was just 23 when he started recording music.
Since then, along with his band The Black Spirits, he has produced more than 60 albums. His unique style, drawing on a variety of influences, is known as Tuku Music.
The multi-award winning artist also contributed to the development of the next generation of Zimbabwean musicians, from the Pakare Paye Arts Centre that he built in Norton, a town near Harare.
Mtukudzi was known for hits such as Todii and Neria and was arguably Zimbabwe’s most celebrated artist ever.
Apart from his music, Mtukudzi was heavily involved in matters of human rights across the continent and held a slew of prestigious human rights awards, including The International Council For Africana Womanism Award, which was in recognition of his role in the upliftment of African women through his artistic work.
Fans of the celebrated jazz musician took to social media in reaction to news of his death.
Source: Zoom Zimbabwe
