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Member of:

Black Spirits

Language:

Shona

Instrument:

Male vocals Guitar

Articles:
Interview (click "border crossing")
Sheer music

On the Internet
Article 1
Mbira Homepage
Music samples
On "Nhava" - new album
Audio files

Biography

What has this man done for 25 years? Answer: He has been an active musician in Zimbabwe with a long line of releases behind him. In terms of international recognition, he has, however, been standing in the shadow of "Zimbabwe's Lion", Thomas Mapfumo. Nothing could be more unfair. Via the 1999 album, "Tuku Music", Oliver Mtukudzi finally got his international breakthrough.
Oliver began his musical career in 1977 when he played with a group called Wagon Wheels, among whose members was Thomas Mapfumo. They were soon a success and, soon after, "Tuku" went solo and formed the band Black Spirits with some of the same musicians. With this backing group he produced 35 original albums, nearly all of which have gone gold in Zimbabwe. Oliver Mtukudzi builds his music from Shona folk music, blending it with South African mpaqanga, soul and blues - and not least with his own gripping lyrics.
At least 15 of his earlier recordings are now available in Europe. Check at:
www.sternsmusic.com Search for artist. Lots of sound samples. A gold mine!

Relevant artists:
Thomas Mapfumo
Bhundu Boys
Imbongi & Albert Nyathi

TUKU MUSIC  
Indigo/Label Bleu/1999

Oliver Mtukudzi's international breakthrough disk, then. It was recorded in South Africa and is a sort of compendium of "Tuku's" (as he's called in Zimbabwe) hits. The disk was produced in a style and atmosphere that is comparable to his concert versions of the songs. "Tuku" trusts his own genuine expression; no hanky panky here and this really grabs you. This has the characteristic cyclic repeats but the arrangements and Tuku's powerful voice immediately draw one into the music. On the song, "Todii" he sings about AIDS: "What shall we do about this sorrowful situation? You live, but you know you have a virus that will kill you. You have a child in your belly whom you know will die. What shall we do?" It tugs at one's heart strings; the female choir sings and brings tears to your eyes - and the walls to shake! Africa, oh Africa!

NDEGA ZVANGU
Shava Music/1999

PAIVEPO  
Putumayo/2000

An album built on the same concepts as "Tuku Music" - older songs recorded anew. However, "Paivepo" doesn't seem at all dated. It features the same precise arrangements with repetitious guitar prominent in the picture, solid bass, drums and congas together with keyboard. And don't forget the glittering backing song of Mwende Chibini and Mary Bell. This music seems easy, but draws you to its centre of its African universe with centripetal force. It's a mighty soul that moves you.

BVUMA/TOLERANCE
Sheer Sound/2002

SHANDA -LIVE IN ZIMBABWE
Sheer sound/2002

VHUNZE MOTO  
Putomayo/2002

After the glittering "Tuku Music" and "Paivepo", it is not without expectations that one sits in a favourite comfy chair with "Vhunze Moto" ("Burning Ember"). And one is surprised. With the opening track, "Nde Kuvara", Oliver Mtukudzi rolls along with some groovy sounds, a little different from his two previous international releases. The song is recognizably African, but "Tuku" has opened up his music and at times it sounds almost like Western soul. With the second track, "Bondo", the doubts increase. Is this a new and insipid "Tuku", adopting a commercial American concept? On the third track his message gets through loud and clear. "Zive Nguva" is a trance-like event where the old "Tuku" draws one into his soulful African universe. From here on in there are no more doubts. "Vhunze Moto" is a another superb album from Zimbabwe's sly fox. He flirts a little with new instruments, such as piano, electric keyboard, xylophone, and the arrangements might give everything a more Western air than before. On the last track, "Tapera" arranged for piano, he sounds almost like Van Morrison. One might ask whether "Tuku" is going too far in a Western direction. But the album is done with style and integrity and all in all it represents an interesting musical development. Like his other albums, this wins one over after several airings. So, if you liked the old Oliver Mtukudzi, fear not. Here is everything you could wish for: pleasing rhythms, "Tuku"'s moving voice and well-timed call-response song. If you have never heard Oliver Mtukudze before, this might be a good place as any to start.

GREATEST HITS
Putomayo/2003

American version of the Greatest Hits. Mostly compiled from the albums "Tuku Music", "Paivepo" and "Vhunze Moto".
Tracks:
1. Ndima Ndapedza
2. Ngoromera
3. Ndakuvara
4. Wake Up
5. Raki
6. Kunze Kwadoka
7. Shanda
8. Dzoka Uyamwe
9. Neria (Live Mahube version)
10. Hear Me Lord (live)

GREATEST HITS
Sheer Sound/2003

African version of the Greatest Hits. Mostly compiled from the albums "Tuku Music", "Paivepo" and "Vhunze Moto".
Tracks:
1.Todii
2.Ndagarwa Nhaka
3.Dzoka Uyamwe
4.Wasakara
5.Mutseredende
6.Magumo
7.Kunze Kwadoka
8.Mabasa
9.Ndakuvara
10.Mkuru Mkuru
11.Raki
12.Chengetai
13.Neria (live Mahube version)

TSIVU
ZMC/Tuku Music/2004

NHAVA  
Heads Up/2005

This is Tuku's 48th album since his debut on record/cassette in 1978. You could hardly critisize his productivity. "Nhava" takes its place in the row of high quality recordings from the hands of Oliver Mtukudzi. There are no big experiments, Tuku knows what he is doing, and sticks to his style. The recording is made in Zimbabwe, where Tuku keeps on living, in contradiction to his collegue Thomas Mapfumo, who had to leave the country after continous harassment from the Government. Oliver Mtukudzi is less outspoken in his comments on life in Zimbabwe, but not necessarily less political. But perhaps more difficult to nail to the wall. His lyrics on "Nhava" are a study in double messages. Simply described they are about life in the villages and old, traditional contradictions. But there's a dimension added, making the message universal. I can imagine Robert Mugabe's censorship apparatchiks wondering if they can accept this. Probably they can't, cause people in Zimbabwe get the point. But how shall the Government react? Can you stop a man from singing about traditional life? In the song "Tiregereiwo",for instance, the communal voice makes a plea to God, begging for foregiveness. There is a need for divine intervention because life has become unbearably heavy. The path of life is a climb up a steep slope, and when it gets to the peak, the path slides down into a grave. No one can bear this anymore. "Even our spirits have crumbled." A crass comment. Common and up to date. "Nhava" is full of sentences like these.
But the music, then-? The record starts with the melancolic "Ninipa", gripping with its sore, underlying mood and its very fine guitar work, from Black Spirits' veteran Philani Dube. The guitar plays a strong role on this album, more up front than I've heard before from Tuku. There's also a lot of piano/electric piano in the sound picture. As usual there are no advanced overdubs, this is played live in the studio, at least that's how it sounds. You can even hear Tuku cough on several songs! "Pindirai" is one of these long, monotonous tracks that Tuku often includes on his albums, with repetative riffs, and it grabs you with hypnotical power.
There are many nice things to say about "Nhava": The album might sound a bit "heavy" at first, but wins by several airings. Still I'm sitting wondering if the album is too long? With 70 minutes playing time it is unevitable to loose some intensity, and the tracks "Mendzva Kudzimba" and "Hazvireve" for instance become very similar. Some songs are simply too long. "Nhava" is not really a less likeable album than "Vhunze Moto" or "Paivepo". There is a lot of superb guitar playing among other things. For some reason or another, "Nhava" as a whole still sounds musically more mediocre, even if the lyrics are strongly engaging. Possibly because of it?

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