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Through God’s Will, Mtukudzi Is Still Alive
By Correspondent
ZIMBABWE and international music legend Oliver Mtukudzi, who turns 60 on Saturday is alive because of God’s will, he has said.
He believes he has lived beyond most of his peers because God has a purpose that he still has to fulfill.
Mtukudzi
“Sixty years are a blessing because some of my peers were not so lucky. I am alive because I think God still has a purpose for me and whatever that purpose is I don’t know,” said Tuku.
“Once our individual purposes are fulfilled we meet the fullness of our time. And I don’t know what I have to fulfill because one will never know that.
“When my son Sam died (March 2010) I want to believe that he had achieved what God had set out for him, young as he was.”
The musician said he will thank God for the blessing of a long life through continuing to serve the Lord and striving to be a better person before Him.
Although he did not know outstanding purposes that God set for him, he would continue singing because music has its purpose in people’s lives.
“The purpose of music is to give life and hope to people. Music is a powerful prayer for me to touch the hearts of people
“When my mother said my first cry at birth was my best-ever composition, it gave me the feeling that God created me to be an artist. I will continue singing.”
He thanked his fans for inspiring him to keep focused and strong.
“At 60, I still can do the things that I did when I was 40. Age is defined in time and wisdom . . . wisdom which must be shared among people and time which we don’t have. My fans keep me fit, focused and inspired because I have a purpose for them.”
The musician shed some light on his private life revealing that his favourite meal is sadza and chicken feet. He credited his wife for being a source of strength.
“I walk for an hour with my wife Daisy . . . sometimes for an hour and half daily. She is a huge source of strength and a pillar in my life and work. She makes me happy.”
Tuku said he would do his best to assist the disadvantaged and urged leaders to follow suit.
“It was always my dream as a young boy to serve in the humanitarian field of life and will endeavour to do even more philanthropic work by offering my assistance and service to the disadvantaged among us.
“World leaders should stop wasting time fighting for personal enrichment and power and give more attention to people and their needs, not certain classes, but all people. If we do that we can make the world a better place.”
He saluted fellow artists Thomas Mapfumo, Zexie Manatsa, Tineyi Chikupo, Safirio Madzikatire and others who started before him for setting the pace for him and other artists that were inspired by their works.
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 recognized 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 tribe, 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 criticizing the government of President Robert Mugabe. However, some of his most emotive hits prodded the aging authoritarian ruler, including “Ndakuvara,” which bemoans the political violence engineered by Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party and “Wasakara (You Are Getting Old),” which most Zimbabweans took as a direct plea for Mugabe to retire.
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.
Posted by Editor
on September 19, 2012. Filed under AROUND AFRICA.
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isaac
September 19, 2012 at 3:40 pm
God of Abraham God of Isaac and God Jacob be you Oliver.For indeed God has purpose fos every one for sure that purpoes mostly is not known to those who still live. Happy birth day once again.
Nicola
September 19, 2012 at 3:40 pm
Happy birth day tuku. am happy that Oliver knows GOD.
isaac
September 19, 2012 at 3:42 pm
God of Abraham God of Isaac and God Jacob be with you Oliver.For indeed God has purpose for every one for sure that purpoes mostly is not known to those who still live. Happy birth day once again.
Smigo
September 19, 2012 at 5:01 pm
So is Mr Mutukuzi saying that all who have died have fulfilled God’s will for them? I find these utterances very very disturbing. If that were true, then death would not be tragic. We grieve when someone dies, whether the dead person was a year old or one hundred years old. For instance, when David’s first son with Bathsheba died, David grieved, Similarly, when Jacob thought that his son Joseph, in his twenties had died, he too grieved, also when Jacob himself died in old age, his sons were grieved. Why was that the case? Jesus too, when his friend Lazarous died, was filled with grief and shade some tears. Why were these individuals affected that way? Couldn’t they simply have said, it is God’s will?
Smigo
September 19, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Yes, God has purpose for mankind and it is there in the bible in black and white. Think about it, would a God of justice purpose something for you and not tell you what that purpose is and then bring you into judgment for not fulfilling it? The true God does not act Wickedly. Imagine tha your dad asked you to drive to town when he was fully aware that you do not have a driver’s license, let alone have any idea about driving. How would everyone describe your dad, if while trying to figure out how to negotiate your way in traffic, a terrible accident happened to you and you died? Would it be reasonable to expect the God of justice to act in a similar manner?
tawanda
September 19, 2012 at 8:14 pm
murume mukuru une nge pere sei????
voltron
September 21, 2012 at 5:52 am
eba muscian aba not umuntu aleimba ati AWECHACHILAMO ICHICHENACHACHILAMO , umufyashiwabula amano aleumfwapanganda nabana, nangu ati bolakupikanapikana pacentre wakokolapo, ati nice songs. rubishi.
Larry
September 21, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Apostle Paul said, for the reason why I live is because of God’s grace. So God loves you and he has put in you that grace to sing His good message to the whole world. Happy birthday to you.
amuna
September 21, 2012 at 3:53 pm
mwari akuchengetei baba.zvyikombolero.