VETERAN academic and political analyst Ibbo Mandaza has joined hands with the late Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi’s family to launch a process towards the establishment of a memorial foundation for the late musician.
The late iconic musician died at the age of 66 on January 23, 2019.
And this past weekend a festival titled The Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival, was held at Pakare Paye Arts Centre in honour of the music guru.
“In conjunction with the Mtukudzi family, comrades and friends across the region and beyond and the Department of National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, I have pleasure and the honour as the sponsor of this initiative, to announce hereby the launch of the process towards the establishment of the Oliver Mtukudzi Memorial Foundation,” Mandaza said in a statement.
“The objectives of this initiative are self-explanatory: to honour one of Zimbabwe’s music icons to posterity; erect a museum and his statue at his homestead in Madziva, to store and flaunt the record of his music and, in doing so, create a national attraction for Zimbabweans and foreign tourists alike; and mobilise resources through which young musicians can benefit from scholarships out of the Oliver Mtukudzi Memorial Foundation.”
Mandaza pleaded for support and resources to set up the foundation.
The funds are initially to meet the costs of erecting the museum and statue at the Mtukudzi homestead in Madziva and in the long run to establish an endowment fund to sustain the Oliver Mtukudzi Memorial Foundation for posterity.
“The foundation will be launched in the not too distant future, but certainly before Oliver’s anniversary on 23 January 2025, the date by which we also hope to celebrate the opening of the Oliver Mtukudzi Memorial Museum and unveil his statue at the Madziva homestead.”