EMOTIONAL MONTH FOR FAMILIES OF LATE LEGENDS TUKU, MANATSA
JANUARY is a very emotional month for the families of the late musical legends — Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi and Zex Manatsa.
Tuku succumbed to diabetes complications on January 23, 2019. He was 66.
Zex Manatsa, lost his battle against cancer on January 20, 2022. Tuku and Manatsa’s children — Selmor and Tendai — strengthened the family ties when they married in 2007.
In the past five years, festivities and family gatherings have been held by the Tuku family.
“We still miss Baba but I have learnt to be strong and work hard for survival,” said his widow Daisy.
“Some of Tuku’s friends have cut ties with us but we are proud of those who still have faith in us.
“The void he left is hard to fill but the memories keep up going as usual.
“Since he was an active person, who enjoyed exercising in his spare time, we have come up with the Tuku Half Marathon, which has become an annual event in the last three years.
“Tuku enjoyed jogging and we would practice together in the hall even though I was a bit lazy.”
She added:
“He used to support Barcelona and I support Liverpool. He would wear his replica jersey when his team was playing and I would don mine.
“In Madziwa, he sponsored a local football team called Kasimbwi FC and we decided to remember him uniquely and show the world that he was versatile.”
l MANATSA FAMILY
His eldest son, Green, said:
“As usual, we will do something as a family but it won’t be open to the public.
“Healing is a process and, as a family, we are there for each other to ensure that we honour our father.
“On Saturday, we will lay some flowers and spruce up the grave area since he was buried side-side with our mother.
“We will always embrace some of his teachings like the need for men to move around with their wives as we do.”
He added:
“Last year, we did a compilation album of some of the songs he did in the past, which some people had no access to.
“There is plenty of stuff that we will be releasing at various intervals.
“We are not in a rush but we simply want to remind people about him and that his legacy is here to stay.”