Zimbabwean Afro-jazz legend Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, has died on Wednesday.
According to reports, he passed on in a hospital in the country’s capital, Harare. At the time of writing, the cause of his death has remained unknown.
The self-taught guitarist boasted of over 60 albums in a career that spanned across 45 years. Some of his memorable songs includes Neria and Todii.
Oliver Mtukudzi – Neria
So unique was his style that his works were dubbed “Tuku music”. Tuku music was a mixture of Zulu’s mbaqanga from South Africa and Zimbabwe’s mbira.
Oliver Mtukudzi – Todii
His lyrics were unmatched as he sang socially-conscious music that were infused with his mother tongue, Shona.
He gained worldwide recognition as an artiste and for his philantrophy. For this reason, he was named by Forbes magazine as one of Africa’s 10 most bankable artists and a goodwill ambassador for the UN children’s charity Unicef.
There are calls to make him a national hero.
He was aged 66.
