Complementing one another, rather than competing, is the recipe for success in society.
That’s the overriding message of Oliver Mtukudzi’s 67th album, which is due to hit the stores tomorrow.
Hanya’Ga (Concern) is the acclaimed African musician’s latest offering and is said to not conform to any time-frame or popular trends.
“We don’t budget time to be crea- tive,” he tells The Sunday Indepen- dent, in a message directed at those who crave competition.
“People want to be better than the next person, which is not possible. But instead we should complement one another. That is the reason why we were put on this earth, to complement and not compete.”
Tuku, as Mtukudzi is affectionately known, says he has always wanted to perform music that raises awareness about real-life issues and which gives hope.
“That is the purpose of song, to give you life. Music heals you, music is part of the air we breathe every day. It keeps you alive. Music is life itself because we can’t do without it,” he says.
Zimbabwe’s music supremo, known for his hits such as Neria and Todii, links his first musical career with his birth cry. This, he says, is a description his mother used in reference to his innate musical abilities.
“She always said that ‘if ever you come up with a new song, I don’t think it’ll surpass the birth cry I listened to when I gave birth to you’,” he recalls.
“And that, I conceded, was my first song, which means I had already started. That marked the beginning of everything.”
With a career spanning 41 years, Mtukudzi says he has always striven to reach people’s hearts and cross borders through the power of music, a feat he has achieved with aplomb.
Yet he doesn’t believe that anyone is more powerful than music itself. “I, as Oliver Mthukudzi, didn’t penetrate markets, but the music did. So it is not me but the music that crossed the borders into other countries outside our own,” he says.
“The purpose of music to give life, to heal the broken hearts and maybe, just maybe, to entertain. My aim therefore has always to touch the next heart and the music followed those hearts.”
This explains, perhaps, why, despite his singing in his native Shona language, his music has touched fans around the world.
“Wherever I go, people try to sing along with the music, but that is not important. The important thing is the feeling the song arouses.”
“If you can touch two or three people through music, then your job is done. It is not about finding a market but touching hearts.
Mtukudzi continues, “Artists don’t make hits, artists make songs. And our listeners are the ones responsible to make hits out of our songs.”
Mtukudzi says that he has always upheld the importance of distinguishing between the song and its creator.
“People tend to praise me, but would they do the same if I didn’t have the song? No. They think what my music does to them is me.
“So they shift the praise to me, but if I start feeling that it’s me who is doing that, I’ll become big headed and become bigger than the song.”
Above all, Mtukudzi considers himself blessed to have been able to achieve such an honour.
“I started music in the early 70s, and kids of that time right now are in their 50s. Their children are also fans of my music. That’s a blessing.”
With his new 10-track album, Mtukudzi wants to deliver the message of virtue and discipline through his songs.
“If a song doesn’t convince me, if it doesn’t touch my heart, how do I expect it to touch the next heart. So from creativity I have my journey first to get in touch with the song.”
Many of Mtukudzi’s fans might be wondering how much longer he will continue with his “divine” work.
“There will be more music from me. I guess that’s why I am still alive. I must still be having a song that God is waiting for me to give. So there will be more music,” he says.
@AmandaMaliba