By Abdallah el-Kurebe, Editor
The International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) has joined the African and global music community to mourn the death of African music legend, Dr. Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi.
A celebrated singer, Mtukudzi, died on Wednesday, January 23, 2018, aged 66 in Harare, Zimbabwe is a songwriter and guitarist that has immensely impacted the world with a legacy of great music spanning four decades and 67 music
albums.
In a condolence letter to the government and people of Zimbabwe, the President and Executive Producer of AFRIMA, Mike Dada described Mtukudzi as a cultural icon who used his work to promote African arts and culture in the continent and in the Diaspora. “Dr. Mtukudzi’s Afro-jazz compositions has touched on socio-cultural issues.”
In 2017, Dr. Mtukudzi was the recipient of the AFRIMA Legend Award, a
category of the All Africa Music Awards that recognises the influence and
excellence of the continent’s music legends who contribute to the growth
of African music and culture and use their craft to bring global renown to
the continent.
Tuku was present on the live stage of the 2017 AFRIMA Main Awards held on Sunday, November 10 at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
Besides receiving his 23.7 carat gold plated trophy for his recognition as an African music legend, Dr. Mtukudzi also performed his hit 1995 single, “Hear Me Lord” on the live stage of AFRIMA 2017.
“His passing is a huge loss to the world of music and has left a vacuum. However, his standard of greatness and talent is one that we will hold in our hearts forever. Tuku led a life of virtue, using his music to show his concern for humanity. He was a preacher and a freedom-fighter, his music
represented freedom and hope for us all. We will never forget his
struggles which served as an inspiration to the arts, music and culture
community in Africa and in the diaspora,” the letter read..
AFRIMA, in partnership with African Union, is a music property that
recognizes and rewards the work and talent of myriad of African artists
from the old to the new generation of musicians.
It also stimulates conversations among Africans and between Africa and the rest of the world about the potential of the creative arts for real humanizing enterprise on the continent contributing significantly to social cohesion, national, regional and continental integration as well as sustainable development in Africa.
