Online Reporter
Trust Khosa
On March 15, 2025, the music fraternity will mark 15 years since the tragic death of Samson Mtukudzi.
He lost his life in a road accident, along with his confidante and sound engineer, Owen Chimhare.
The memory of Sam remains vivid among his fellow musicians from that era.
His life, much like a candle in the wind, was abruptly extinguished by the relentless hand of fate.
The impact of his loss continues to resonate, particularly within his family, who are still grappling with the grief of his untimely passing.
His father, the legendary Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, also endured years of pain following the death of his son, who was only 21 at the time, passionately navigating the music landscape.
Despite his absence, Sam’s music continues to enchant listeners, with some tracks seemingly predicting his own fate.
On April 5, his legacy and life will be commemorated through song and dance at Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton, Mashonaland West province.
This celebration serves as a reminder of Sam’s enduring influence and the profound impact he made during his brief yet vibrant life.
With the nation set to celebrate its 45th Uhuru holiday next month, Sam’s commemoration will be a precursor to the main event on April 18 for the youths.
Sam’s 15th anniversary is worth celebrating, as the versatile crooner made a significant impact.
The event is indeed worth celebrating.
Fellow crooners of his generation are set to perform at the event.
These include Agga Nyabinde, Tamy Moyo, Bernard Betera, Watson “Jay Watta” Chidzomba, Sarungano, Donald Kanyuchi, Chiedza Chevatendi, Esau, and Tetenda Macheso, who fronts Cheso Boys.
Judging by the line-up, fans are in for a real treat, as most of the stars have excelled in their own capacities with various musical groups.
Agga, who was mentored by the national hero Tuku, noted that it was an honour to perform at his son’s 15th anniversary.
“As Agga Nyabinde and 2 Nice Band, I promise a sterling performance in honour of the late Sam Mtukudzi and his father as well.
“We are going to give our best performance and make sure we do what Sam always wanted to do. I learnt a lot from the late Sam Mtukudzi because, being a son of a legend himself, he could play Tuku’s music, but he expressed himself in his own way,” he said.
Agga, who has been in the game for over a decade, hailed Sam for his originality.
“You could listen to his music and say, “This sounds like Tuku music,” but it’s different. So Sam was being Sam; he was not imitating Oliver Mtukudzi, and I appreciate that from him. He also taught us that as youngsters, we can do music and be responsible people,” he stressed.
Agga, who doubles as an arts administrator with the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe (NACZ), urged fans to show up in numbers.
“We need to celebrate each other even after losing each other to death. Sam was a promising lad who had potential, and we can only celebrate his music now. I urge fans to show up in numbers as we honour him. It’s 15 years gone by, and it feels like yesterday because time is flying,” he added.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Jay Watta, who is now a resident artiste at Pakare Paye.
“I knew Sam very well because we grew up together in Norton and learned to play music at Pakare Paye Arts Centre. I once worked with him in his band, and I can simply say he was way ahead of his time.
His maturity and songwriting skills made him a cut above the rest,” he said.
He recalled the good times he shared with the late star musicians in their musical journey.
“Besides being a son of a music legend, Sam was humble, and he would reduce himself to our level. We never had fights with him because he was a natural leader, who prioritised his work first.
“We have a lot of good memories during live shows, and we embarked on this peak,” he recalled.
Jay Watta revealed that accepting Sam’s death was hard.
“The memories are still fresh because we were close and belonged to the same generation. There are times I miss him a lot, and it’s hard to believe it’s now 15 years after his death. I wish him well wherever he is right now, and we can only learn from his legacy,” he said.
Jay Watta, who has settled well at Pakare Paye, urged fans to show up in numbers.
“Such commemorations call for a collective hand, and we urge fans to show up in numbers. I am ready for the event, and it will be a day to remember for all those who followed his music,” he stressed. Sam died in 2010 at his peak and was buried at Warren Hills Cemetery in Harare.
In 2019, his father succumbed to diabetes complications at the age of 66.
He was declared a national hero and buried at his homestead in Madziva, Mashonaland Central province.
The loss of Sam and his father left a void hard to fill.
