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and will soon give him a diplomatic passport in line with his new status.
Known for sobriquets Tuku or Superstar, Mtukudzi has been the country’s cultural ambassador since 2009, an honour bestowed to him by the Project Concern International, and in 2006 he was designated as Zimbabwe’s tourism ambassador by the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe.
This gesture by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is another feather in his cap.
Mtukudzi, who was expected to arrive home yesterday from Durban, South Africa, where he performed twice at the Indaba International Travel and Tourism Exposition, was bestowed his new status by the ZTA at the colourful launch of Zimbabwe’s new tourism brand “Zimbabwe, A World of Wonders”.
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“We have decided to bestow upon our own music icon, Oliver Mtukudzi, the Tourism Ambassador of Zimbabwe and we will upgrade his passport as soon as we get back home.
“His history does not need any explanation. Everyone knows what important role he has played in representing our country through music,” said ZTA chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke to rousing applause from the crowd that attended Mtukudzi’s last show at the Sadc Pavilion.
Accompanied by his wife Daisy, Mtukudzi was part of the Zimbabwe tourism entourage to Indaba and was a crowd-puller especially after putting up a stunning performance at the opening show on Saturday.
There, Mtukudzi played true to his status at a packed beach party.
Mtukudzi, whose music status has grown throughout the world as a unique Zimbabwean brand, left the crowd yearning for more after an hour-long musical journey that the multi-cultural revellers never wanted to end.
Mr Kaseke introduced Mtukudzi to a rapturous welcome, forcing fans who had been killing time on the beach front to run up to the arena.
Entering the giant stage with the song “Todini”, Tuku, silenced the swash and backwash of the sea wave cloves and drowned the beach in a unique twing-twang of the guitar, mixed with spirit-provoking trendy marimba that blended well with eternal backing vocals.
The crowd surprisingly sang along, danced on the sand and drenched its souls into the music that defined Zimbabwe as Tuku abruptly stopped, like one in a trance and shouted: “Zimbabwe, a World of Wonders!” before continuing as if nothing happened.
Mtukudzi went on and on, swaying the crowd into Zimbabwe’s music tapestry.
Marimba player Charles Chipanga and wife Namatai were also up to the task, with Namatai’s sharp, melodious and piercing voice sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Sam Mataure, steady and committed, played the drums as if there was no tomorrow while bass guitarist Never Mpofu strummed the guitar into the night. Mtukudzi capped the exhibition with a solo performance at
the official launch of the Zimbabwe tourism brand.
If there is any song that will remain etched in the memories of the revellers, it was Neria.
“Neria . . . Neria . . . Neria . . . ho!”
Bongani Ndlovu