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 Sam Mtukudzi (21), one of Zimbabwe’s most promising young musicians, has died in a car crash. He was the son of one of Africa’s most legendary music stars, Oliver Mtukudzi. Sam passed away in the early hours of Monday morning (15 March 2010) The Zimbo Jam has learnt. Sam and his sound engineer, Owen Chimhare (24), were driving from Harare to Norton when they were involved in a car accident, just before Pamuzinda Highway Escape, at around 0100hrs this morning. Both of them died on the spot. We will supply more details as the circumstances of the accident become clearer. Born on 1st April 1988, Sam first showed his musical nature at the age of 4 when he started strumming on his Father’s guitar. The family was then located in the City of Kwekwe. At the age of 10 his father saw him perform at a school concert and was so impressed by the performance that he bought him his first guitar. When he started high school at Prince Edward in Harare, Sam found before him an institution that had great facilities for him to pursue music seriously and to learn a number of instruments. He immersed himself into it, learning mbira, drums, marimbas, saxophone and mastering his guitar skills. As soon as he was done with school Sam started performing professionally, backing his father on many occasions, but also performing on his own. He went on to form his own ensemble, the Ay Band. Sam released his first album, Rume Rimwe in 2007. Just last week he had returned from South Africa where he was overseeing the mixing of his second album. He performed all over the world including in countries such as Canada, United States of America, Lesotho, Swaziland, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria, Ireland and United Kingdom. His talent has illuminated festivals such as the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Winter Jazz Festival, Victoria Falls International Jazz Festival and, Johannesburg International Jazz Festival among others. His last show was at the Sports Diner on Saturday evening, where he and his band gave an inspired performed, albeit to a small crowd of about twenty people. His parents, who are currently in South Africa, have been notified of the accident. They will arrive in Harare this morning. Details continue to unfold of the accident that killed Sam Mtukudzi and his sound engineer, Owen Chimhare. We are told that there was no other vehicle involved. Sam’s car veered off the road into the bridge just before the Kuwadzana extension turn off on the Bulawayo highway. Both of them died on the spot. According to the Tuku Music public relations department, burial arrangements will be announced in due course. Sam and his father had just embarked upon a series of concerts themed Perekedza Mwana, which means “accompany the child.” Ironically, the last post on his Facebook page, was a question from the Truth Game, posted by one of his friends on Friday: “Would you cry if Sam died.” I think the answer to that is obvious. Zimbabwe is crying.
- The Zimbo Jam |
