I am a broken man, says Tuku as he turns 59

Oliver Mtukudzi has spoken of his deep sorrow and heartbreak at the death of his uncle which has left him broken. He turned 59 yesterday but had no reason to celebrate as he was mourning the death of his trusted uncle, Wonder Mukuonoweshuro. Sukuru Wonder was his sound engineer and close confidant. Mtukudzi’s son, Samson passed away in March last year. “Zvakaoma shamwari. Ndiri kungofirwa. Zviri kunetsa,” said Tuku adding : “You can’t celebrate anything in light of the death. In our tradition the person’s soul is still wandering and has not rested amongst its ancestors so celebrating is far from my mind right now.”

“We are not talking about the birthday. We are not even thinking about it. “Sekuru Wonder passed away at a terrible time,” he said. Tuku opened up in what was his first personal account of the pain he has gone through in the past week. He spoke at length about the harsh criticism his Delta beverages (Chibuku Road to Fame) performance attracted in its wake, saying his mind was not in one place as he performed straight after the funeral. With hands fresh from holding a shovel to bury a loved one, a guitar had to get in its stead. The voice that was mourning bitterly for a loved one was expected to sing a song of celebration. It was too much, Tuku said. 

“How would I have been expected to perform extremely well? I had just buried Wonder and left straight for the show. It (the show) had already been planned so I could not let people down,” he added. However, Josh Hozheri of Jazz 105, the venue where Tuku was supposed to hold a show which was subsequently cancelled owing to Sekuru Wonder’s death said the industry was behind him full time and wished Oliver all the best in his personal birthday milestone. “Jazz 105 has worked well with Tuku and we are quite close to him and his passion humbles us. 

We are with him in this dark time and we hope he emerges and keeps on working for the brand and the passion for which we celebrate him.” “We are with him and carry him in our prayers and good wishes and would like to wish him a happy birthday in spite of the trials and the dark times that he is currently undergoing,” said Hozheri. H METRO