Harare – Seven years have passed since the nation was plunged into mourning following the death of music icon Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, but for his widow, Daisy Mtukudzi, the legendary musician is never far away. The clock has marked seven years since the Black Spirits leader succumbed to diabetes on January 23, 2019, at the age of 66, yet the spiritual bond between the couple remains a powerful force.
In a candid interview, Daisy revealed that her late husband continues to visit her, offering comfort and a sense of his enduring presence.
“It’s still hard to accept that Tuku is no more. His absence is hard to bear and, most of the time, I talk to him in my dreams as if he has visited someone and will be back. A lot has happened since his death but we continue to celebrate the good deeds he accomplished,” she said.
The emotional admission comes as the family prepares to mark the anniversary of his passing, a period that has been anything but peaceful for the Mtukudzi household. While Daisy speaks of a spiritual reunion, the years following Tuku’s death have been marred by a very public and painful feud with his daughters, Selmor and Sandra Mtukudzi, over his estate and allegations of long-standing ill-treatment.
The Shadow of the Family Feud
The late national hero, who was interred at his Madziva homestead in Mashonaland Central province, left behind a vast musical legacy, but also a deeply fractured family. The simmering tensions boiled over into the public domain when Selmor and her elder sister, Sandra, spoke out about their difficult relationship with their stepmother, Daisy, and the alleged attempts to erase them from their father’s life and legacy.
The daughters chronicled a history of abuse and favouritism dating back to their childhood. Sandra, in particular, recounted a deeply painful incident from her teenage years that illustrated the emotional distance created by her stepmother.
“I stayed with dad for a long time while she was with my stepmother after I finished school. I can’t lie, it was difficult and hard situation. A lot would happen,” Sandra said in an interview with DJ Ollah7.
She went on to detail an incident that occurred when she was 16 years old in Glenwood, Kwekwe, where she felt deliberately excluded from the family’s plans.
“I would always see that there was favouritism on children. I remember this incident in Glenwood, Kwekwe, I was 16, dad and new wife were building a house in Norton, the green house. I was not informed about the house, even though other children knew. After the house was done, dad came to bid us farewell. I didn’t know the date they were moving out.”
The moment of discovering the empty family home was described as a profound emotional blow. “I went home and it was a sorrowful state. I was hurt. The house was empty and I didn’t know where they went.”
The daughters’ claims paint a picture of a stepmother who actively sought to keep them away from their father. Selmor echoed this sentiment, stating that her father’s situation was difficult “because of mama (Daisy) who didn’t want us to be close to him.”
The Will and the Legacy
The family conflict reached a critical point with the handling of Tuku’s estate. Following his death, a one-page Will and Testament was filed with the Master of the High Court, which reportedly bequeathed all movable and immovable property to his surviving spouse, Daisy. This move effectively left out all of his children from the inheritance.
In response, Sandra and Selmor made the serious accusation that their stepmother had forged their late father’s will. They alleged that they did not receive anything from their father’s inheritance, a situation that has fuelled the public debate over the fairness and authenticity of the document.
The daughters’ decision to speak out was, in part, driven by a desire to honour their father’s final wishes for family unity, which they say have been ignored. Sandra recalled a moment of paternal counsel before Tuku’s death: “Before our father died, he sat down with all his daughters, including Samantha, and advised us to unite.”
The Gala Meltdown
The family’s private struggles burst onto the national stage during the inaugural Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival of the Arts (OMIFA). The event, meant to celebrate Tuku’s impressive body of work, became the backdrop for Selmor’s emotional breakdown, a moment that captured the nation’s attention.
The drama began with Selmor’s initial exclusion from the line-up of artists billed to perform. She was only added after a widespread public outcry, receiving an invitation via e-mail on short notice, despite the organisers having started planning the event months earlier in June.
Selmor expressed her shock at the exclusion, especially the reason given by the organisers. “It’s quite unfortunate that they keep on excluding me from family events. I was also shocked when the festival organisers claimed they had omitted me from the line-up because they had a small budget. To my surprise, I have never asked for payment to perform at family events. I was also shocked when the organisers told me that they had a tight budget for the show.”
The hostility continued on the day of the performance. Selmor and her group struggled to gain entry to the venue, being denied accreditation until the last minute.
“From the moment I arrived at Pakare Paye, the hostility was evident. We struggled to gain entry to the venue. We were only allowed inside a few minutes before our scheduled performance,” Selmor recounted.
Once inside, the singer noticed changes that she felt were a deliberate attempt to erase her presence from the family’s artistic hub, Pakare Paye Arts Centre.
“As I walked through the hallway, I noticed some striking changes. My pictures that mdhara (Tuku) had taken from Jazz 105 and framed had been removed from the wall, specifically his office door. Some of my artifacts that used to be in the Sam Mtukudzi Hall were also gone. Everything related to me that mdhara had placed at Pakare Paye had been removed; I do not know when. This clearly showed me that they were trying to erase me. According to them, I should not exist and they do not want me associated with the Tuku family in any way.”
The culmination of years of emotional struggle and the day’s hostility proved too much. Selmor had an unexpected on-stage breakdown, which prevented her from completing her performance. She later opened up about the incident, saying she had hoped to overcome her emotions but was overwhelmed.
She also dismissed claims that her song choices were a deliberate attack on her stepmother. “During my show, I always start with the song “Changu Chiiko,” then “Seiko’ with a low tempo. We then shift gears as we proceed as has become the norm at our shows. People who frequent our shows know our playlist better and that playlist was not targeted at anyone.”
Selmor also claimed that Daisy had actively blocked her and her sisters from performing at Pakare Paye over the years, citing various excuses. “My mother has always prevented us from performing at Pakare Paye or participating in anything related to my father. I do not understand why. A few years ago, she claimed to be afraid of Covid-19, even though other artistes were performing there. Other times, when we asked for permission, she simply said no.”
The Enduring Legacy
Despite the family turmoil, Daisy Mtukudzi remains focused on preserving the public image and artistic legacy of her late husband, a man who released over 60 albums during his lifetime.
“We are always praying that his legacy lives on while protecting it from being tarnished, as he was a smart person who loved everyone,” Daisy stated.
Tuku, who was born on September 22, 1952, was a true music ambassador and mentor, representing Zimbabwe with pride wherever he went. He was also a passionate advocate against gender-based violence and other social ills.
The family and friends continue to honour his memory through various events. The Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival of the Arts (OMIFA) has become a permanent feature on the showbiz calendar. Furthermore, the Oliver Mtukudzi Memorial Half Marathon is set to hold its fourth edition on February 1st at the Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton.
Daisy noted that the marathon is a fitting tribute to Tuku, who was a keen advocate for fitness. “He loved exercising a lot, it was a secret to staying fit on the stage over the years. This marathon is meant to remember the valuable teachings he shared with the world, which helped him thrive in the creative sector.” Last year, the event saw 500 runners register, and another large turnout is expected this year.
Daisy expressed her gratitude to the fans who have stood by the family and continue to cherish Tuku’s memory.
“I can’t thank his fans enough. Everywhere we go, they still cherish him and respect everything he did for the creative sector. He was not only a legend in his homeland but was also adored overseas, a market he penetrated effortlessly. Authenticity and hard work were paramount to him, and our hope is that his legacy continues to live on.”
In a final, poignant reflection on the future, Daisy expressed a hope for healing and unity, a sentiment that stands in stark contrast to the public family dispute.
“There shall come a time when we want the tears we are shedding to water down the seeds of love and unity he sowed during his lifetime, allowing them to flourish.”
The public will be watching to see if the family can eventually find the peace and unity that Tuku himself wished for, or if the shadow of the past will continue to haunt his celebrated legacy.
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