Oliver Mtukudzi

For the mountain in Peru, see Tuku (Peru).

Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi (born 22 September 1952 in Highfield, Harare) is a Zimbabwean musician, businessman, philanthropist, human rights activist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Southern Africa Region. Tuku is considered Zimbabwe's most renowned and internationally recognised cultural icon of all time.

Biography

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 is also a contributor to Mahube, Southern Africa's "supergroup".

With his husky voice, he has become the most recognised voice to emerge from Zimbabwe and onto the international scene and he has earned a devoted following across Africa and beyond. A member of Zimbabwe's KoreKore group, with Nzou Samanyanga as his totem, he sings in the nation's dominant Shona language along with Ndebele and English. He also incorporates elements of different musical traditions, giving his music a distinctive style, known to fans as Tuku Music. Mtukudzi has had a number of tours around the world. He has been on several tours in the UK, US and Canada to perform for large audiences.

Unlike Mapfumo, Mtukudzi has refrained from directly criticising the government of President Robert Mugabe.

He is the father of five children and has two grandchildren. 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 also has four sisters and one brother, who died.

Discography

Albums

1. 1978 Ndipeiwo Zano (re-released 2000)
2. 1979 Chokwadi Chichabuda
3. 1979 Muroi Ndiani?'
4. 1980 Africa (re-released 2000)
5. 1981 Shanje
6. 1981 Pfambi
7. 1982 Maungira
8. 1982 Please Ndapota
9. 1983 Nzara
10. 1983 Oliver's Greatest Hits
11. 1984 Hwema Handirase
12. 1985 Mhaka
13. 1986 Gona
14. 1986 Zvauya Sei?
15. 1987 Wawona
16. 1988 Nyanga Nyanga
17. 1988 Strange, Isn't It?'
18. 1988 Sugar Pie
19. 1989 Grandpa Story
20. 1990 Chikonzi
21. 1990 Pss Pss Hallo!
22. 1990 Shoko
23. 1991 Mutorwa
24. 1992 Rombe
25. 1992 Rumbidzai Jehova
26. 1992 Neria Soundtrack'
27. 1993 Son of Africa
28. 1994 Ziwere MuKobenhavn
29. 1995 Was My Child
30. 1996 Svovi yangu
31. 1995 The Other Side: Live in Switzerland
32. 1995 Ivai Navo
33. 1997 Ndega Zvangu (re-released 2001)
34. 1997 Chinhamwe
35. 1998 Dzangu Dziye
36. 1999 Tuku Music
37. 2000 Paivepo
38. 2001 Neria
39. 2001 Bvuma (Tolerance)
40. 2002 Shanda soundtrack
41. 2002 Vhunze Moto
42. 2003 Shanda (Alula Records)
43. 2003 Tsivo (Revenge)
44. 2004 Greatest Hits Tuku Years
45. 2004 Mtukudzi Collection 1991–1997
46. 2004 Mtukudzi Collection 1984–1991
47. 2005 Nhava(Tolerance)
48. 2006 Wonai
49. 2007 Tsimba Itsoka
50. 2008 Dairai (Believe)
51. 2010 Rudaviro
52. 2010 Kutsi Kwemoyo (compilation)
53. 2011 Rudaviro
54. 2011 "Abi'angu" (Duets of my time)
55. 2012 "Sarawoga" Sarawoga laments the losses that the legend has had to endure in his life, not least the loss of life. Thus he has been left 'alone' in a sense, hence the title Sarawoga (left alone).
56. 2014 " Mukombe Wemvura "

Contributing artist

1. 1996 The Rough Guide to the Music of Zimbabwe (World Music Network)
2. 1999 Unwired: Acoustic Music from Around the World (World Music Network)
3. 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).

External links

• Official website