Arts, Culture and Sport

Pictures: Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi – Samanyanga’s last journey home

Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi, who died at the age of 66, on 23 January 2019, was buried on Sunday, 27th of January in Madziwa, his rural home. Hundreds of mourners from across Zimbabwe, and the continent attended the funeral, celebrating the life of a global icon whose music will certainly live on.

Published

6 years ago

January 28, 2019

This is Africa

The death of famed Zimbabwean musician, and social commentator lovingly known as “Tuku” plunged the country and continent in mourning. Mtukudzi died at Harare’s Avenues Clinic after battling diabetes for years at the age of 66.

The government of Zimbabwe declared him a National hero, a first for a musician or artist in the country. The Mtukudzi family accepted the honour but decided to bury him at his home in Madziwa (situated about 140 km from the capital, Harare), instead of the National Heroes Acre, where the country’s heroes and heroines who fought in the liberation war are interred.

Below are some pictures from the tribute show at held at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday 26, January, funeral and burial in Madziwa.

Tuku tribute show held at the National Sports Stadium, Saturday 26, January

Part of the huge crowd which attended the tribute show held at the National Sports Stadium in Harare, in which many Zimbabwean musicians performed in memory of Tuku. Photo: This is Africa

Funeral ceremony: Mtukudzi rural homestead, Madziwa

The Zimbabwean flag flying at half mast as a symbol of respect at Tuku’s homestead in Madziwa. Photo: This is Africa

Steve Dyer – South African musician – saxophonist, composer, and producer. Dyer is a long-time friend of Oliver Mtukudzi. Dyer was a Director of Mahube, a Pan-Africa ensemble of award winning musicians, and Tuku was a member of the group and they performed together on numerous occasions.

An elderly woman part of the hundreds of people who came to mourn and celebrate the life of an iconic artist.

Jesesi Mungoshi (middle), a popular Zimbabwean actress who starred as Neria in the 1993 hit film Neria, at Oliver Mtukudzi’s funeral in Madziwa. Neria was written by award winning Zimbabwean writer Tsitsi Dangarembga.