Legendary musician Oliver Mtukudzi dies at 66

Legendary Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi has died, according to multiple news sources in Zimbabwe.

About 19 minutes ago, @ThisIsAfricaTIA tweeted, “Zimbabwean musician Dr. Oliver Mtukudzi is dead. “Tuku” was a singer-songwriter with over 60 albums to his name. He was one of Africa’s top musicians. He was hospitalised last year after suffering from a heart attack. We condole with his family.”

His record label Gallo record also confirmed the news to Sowetan, a Zimbabwean publication.

“We are not ready to give an official statement as we would like to give the family the go ahead before us. We just want to make sure that we respect the family until a spokesperson has been selected.”

Masvingo Mirror, another Zimbabwean publication also tweeted at 5:01pm, that Mtukudzi died at 3:00pm.

“Oliver Mtukudzi is dead. Music icon Oliver Mtukudzi has passed on. The Mirror has it on good authority that he died 2hrs ago in the ICU at the Avenues Clinic in Harare,” Masvingo Mirror tweeted.

However, no statement has been released yet by the family. The cause of Mtukudzi’s death is not yet known.

Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi was a Zimbabwean musician, businessman, philanthropist, human rights activist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Southern Africa Region. Commonly known as Tuku, he was considered Zimbabwe’s most renowned and internationally recognised cultural icon of all time.

Rest in peace Tuku. What shall we do?