Iconic jazz musician and hitmaker of Neria, Oliver Mtukudzi has passed away. Mtukudzi, nicknamed ‘Tuku’ had been suffering from diabetes for a long time. He gave up his fight at the age of 66 years on Wednesday, 23 January 2019.
An official statement hasn’t been released as yet, but a tweet posted by the Mirror Masvingo stated that he had died on Wednesday afternoon in ICU at the Avenues Clinic in Harare.
Breaking News
Oliver Mtukudzi is dead
Music icon Oliver Mtukudzi has passed on. The Mirror has it on good authority that he died in the last 40 minutes in the ICU at the Avenues Clinic in Harare.— The Mirror Masvingo (@TheMirrorMasv) January 23, 2019
Mtukudzi was set to release his 67th album titled Hanya’Ga (Concern) whose message came from introspection and a hoping that people would learn a thing or two from it. “The world keeps getting tangled in ‘unnecessary’ problems all because we are focused on competing and being better than the next person,” said Mtukudzi in an interview with Tshisa Live.
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The Life of Oliver Mtukudzi
The hitmaker of Neria has a career spanning 40years with the release of 66 albums. Having travelled and performed for people from different backgrounds all over the world, Mtukudzi has not only played at some of the worlds top festivals, but he has also contributed to the nurturing of Zimbabwean music talents.
Some of the prestigious titles and positions he held were Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations Children’s Fund and the coveted Cavaliere of the Order of Merit bestowed on him by the Italian government.
6 of our favourite songs by Oliver Mtukudzi
We took a journey down memory lane to remember some of the hit Mtukudzi blessed us with over the years. Here are 6 of our favourite songs by Oliver Mtukudzi.
1. Todii.
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2. Neria.
3. Ndakakubereka.
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4. Shanda.
5. Shungu Dzaamai.
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6. Tapera.