What killed Oliver Mtukudzi: Veteran jazz musician Oliver Mtukudzi has died.
Mtukudzi’s record label Gallo Records confirmed the news on Wednesday afternoon but said there were no details available.
The musician’s family is set to release a statement later this afternoon. An outpouring of tributes has already flooded social media.
During an interview a year ago, Mtukudzi spoke about his excitement of releasing his 67th album.
He said the most significant thing about his upcoming album, Hanya’Ga (Concern) was the message.
“My 67th album is meant to share a message of introspecting and I’m hoping people learn a thing or two from it. It’s an album I wrote last year after I realised that the world keeps getting tangled up in ‘unnecessary’ problems.
“All because we are focused on competing and being better than the next person. In so doing we keep stepping on each other’s toes but that is not how God created us. God meant for us to compliment each other, that’s why he didn’t duplicate talent,” he said at the time.
Oliver Mtukudzi died on the same day that the late jazz maestro Hugh Masekhela died.
Oliver, who hailed, from Zimbabwe, was widely celebrated across Africa and also regarded as one of the richest acts in Africa.