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Prince Mushawevato
SELMOR MTUKUDZI is currently battling depression over the ongoing family feud, which has reached boiling point.
Beyond the family turmoil, the daughter of the late music legend Dr Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi is particularly disheartened by the realisation that she has unintentionally let down the people who have always believed in her and supported her unconditionally, at a crucial moment.
Selmor’s emotional outburst at the inaugural Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival of the Arts (OMIFA) was a result of the festering feud.
The normally cheerful singer has since offered a sincere apology to her devoted fans.
The unexpected on-stage breakdown, which prevented her from performing, cast a shadow over the event held at Pakare Paye in Norton.
Prior to this unfortunate incident, OMIFA had already faced public criticism due to Selmor’s initial exclusion from the programme.
However, in response to the widespread backlash, the organisers relented and added her to the line-up. Despite this concession, the artiste was ultimately unable to fulfil her contractual agreement on stage.
The seemingly unpopular decision, not to perform, provided an opportune platform for Daisy Mtukudzi, Tuku’s widow, to launch a counter-attack against the “Nguva Yangu” and “Hangasa” hitmaker.
“At least the world has witnessed all the drama. I know people will still attack me, but what have I done to deserve this embarrassment?” quipped Daisy in an interview with one of our sister papers.
Selmor and her sister Sandra were not the only ones excluded from the festival.
Aaron Chaka (45), a man claiming to be Tuku’s son, was also denied entry.
The incident caused him considerable distress, making him hesitant to discuss the matter publicly afterwards.
Aaron’s attempt to change his surname to Mtukudzi was thwarted when the High Court dismissed his application, citing various inconsistencies and the need for a paternity test.
Sybil, another of Tuku’s official daughters, was also not invited to the festival.
“. . . the event was all about celebrating Tuku’s legacy and life well-lived. It was not about Daisy or whoever, because we were commemorating an icon here,” added Daisy.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail Entertainment, Selmor candidly admitted that she had made a huge mistake and should have controlled her emotions better.
“I was completely overwhelmed on that day (at the festival). I sincerely apologise for not being as strong as my supporters had hoped. I hurt the people who trusted and supported me unconditionally by not performing. I tried to compose myself but could not,” Selmor said.
“I am still figuring out how to make it up to my fans who expected me to perform. My team is working on something and will share details soon. Of course, it will not be the same as it would have been at Pakare Paye, but it is my way of apologising.
“It is difficult for me to describe the exact emotions I felt that day but I promise I will not repeat the same again.”
The 40-year-old musician revealed some of the factors that contributed to her emotional state at Pakare Paye.
“We prepared for this show (OMIFA), rehearsed with the band and even had a new outfit tailored specifically for the event. The design was inspired by my father’s stage outfits.
“I was finally ready to take the stage at Pakare Paye. I had spent years asking my mother (Daisy) for permission to perform, but she always refused.
“So, finally getting this opportunity touched my heart deeply. The entire day was truly moving,” explained Selmor.
The late music icon’s daughter revealed that she and her group faced harassment from the beginning.
They were not granted accreditation to enter the venue until the last minute. As a result, they spent time outside the venue pleading for access. When Selmor’s advance team arrived at the OMIFA venue, they were informed that the singer’s manager had already collected their accreditation, which later proved not to be true.
“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.
“We waited outside for a while because we did not have access tags. Once inside, no one guided our group or told us where to put our belongings.
“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.”
Selmor added that she had a difficult upbringing, but OMIFA proved to be the culmination of her inner struggles, rather than a solution to their family crisis.
She recounted how Daisy had prevented them from performing at Pakare Paye over the years.
“The events of the festival day still affect me to this day. I thought I would eventually overcome my emotions when I went on stage, but I was overwhelmed. Being at Pakare Paye was like a defining moment, but I was wrong,” she said.
“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.”
Repeated attempts by this publication to obtain a comment from Daisy during and after the two-day festival were unsuccessful.
Below are excerpts from the interview with Selmor and her sister Sandra.
* * *
Q: If given another opportunity to perform at Pakare Paye, would you accept it?
Selmor: It is not about performing at Pakare Paye or receiving anything from my father’s inheritance.
I simply want our family to be united, celebrating our father together.
As sisters and as a family, we should come together to preserve our father’s legacy.
Unfortunately, we are being excluded from events honouring him.
Any child would be affected by such treatment.
Q: Some people believe that as a married adult, you should no longer be involved in your father’s inheritance matters. What is your take on this sentiment?
Selmor: Why should age be a factor only for me?
Samantha, who is older than me, is still involved in our father’s property and legacy.
Faith (Kadzura), Daisy’s daughter, is also older and benefits from Pakare Paye.
Why aren’t they being discussed?
Samantha has her mother, and I have mine, but we share the same father.
We are all in our 40s, including Sandra.
I simply want us to come together as sisters, united by our shared blood.
Let us honour our father’s memory and fulfil his final wishes. It hurts to see that we have lost respect for his values, perhaps because he is no longer with us.
Q: Can you tell us about the final wishes?
Sandra: He told us that he wanted all of his daughters to meet and discuss our differences, whether real or perceived.
As the eldest sister, I was tasked with
contacting Samantha and informing her about our father’s request for a lunch meeting.
Samantha was then supposed to call Selmor and Selmor would call Sybil, conveying the same message.
We completed this exercise, which forced us to start interacting again for the first time in a long time.
This happened in November, and our father passed away the following year.
Q: Why is Selmor, and not Sandra, the eldest, always at the forefront of the Tuku feud?
Sandra: As a prominent figure, Selmor is often in the public eye and has become a target for scrutiny and criticism.
Additionally, media outlets may be more likely to report on Selmor due to her fame compared to Sybil or myself.
However, it is important to understand that when Selmor speaks out about these issues, she is representing the interests of everyone involved, including the children, vanatete (Tuku’s sisters) and many others; the very same people whom dad called family.
If you are to interview Sybil, she might be able to share even more shocking revelations about the family’s turmoil and how she has been tangled up in it.
I hope that one day mhamha (Daisy) will agree to meet with us to discuss these issues openly. I would be delighted if that was to happen.
Online Reporter