By Chantelle Tatenda Muzanenhamo
The inaugural Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival of the Arts is set to roar into life next week bringing together various artist from different genres in celebration of the late icon and national hero through music and dance.
When the festival was initially announced, the excitement amongst fans was predictably of the highest levels. However with a week to go before the event, focus has been diverted by the ominous absence of Dr Oliver Mtukudzi’s much loved daughter and musician Selmor Mtukudzi.
The lineup for the festival boasts an impressive roster of artists, including popular acts like Jah Prayzah and Feli Nandi. However, the absence of Selmor, from the lineup has raised the ire of most fans. To Tuku fans, Selmor is the closest thing they have to the feel of the legendary Tuku and to them understandably so, her absence from the lineup of acts is a mockery not only to Tuku but Selmor as an artist.
The family dynamics around the late musician’s widow Daisy and her step daughters is a public secret, their relationship has never been rosy but the hope among fans was for the sake of honouring the legend, whatever hatchet they may have. Alas that was not to be and the discontent and anger among fans of the late set social media alight.
Legendary sports writer and H-Metro Editor Robson Sharuko took to Facebook insinuating there can never be a Tuku Festival without a Selmor.
He poignantly stated, “Selmor Mtukudzi is TUKU. She is his walking shadow, the part of him which remains alive even in the shadow of his death. She can’t be turned into a nobody, and she can’t be cut off from her TUKU connection.”
This statement resonates with many fans who believe that Selmor’s presence is vital in honoring Tuku’s legacy, as she not only shares his name but also embodies his musical spirit.
Other fans were berating , “Daisy anojairira vanhu ma small house maona brain dzavo ka…” and “tiri kuvaziva vamubvisa palist”, said one fan on social media.
Moreover, some voices in the comment section have pointed out that the event cannot truly succeed without Selma’s involvement. “There is no Tuku Legacy without Selmor. No Selmor No Festival,” the comment reads
One fan expressed that musicians should stand by Selma and withdraw from participating in the event. This call emphasizes the need for artists to support one another, particularly in challenging times., “The musicians should stand by her side and withdraw from participating on this event in solidarity,” he said
The festival aims to celebrate Tuku’s contributions to the music industry and his cultural impact, but the absence of Selmor whether by design or by default raises questions about the complexities of family relationships and the management of Tuku’s legacy. As the festival date approaches, it remains to be seen how the unfolding drama will affect attendance and the overall atmosphere of the event.