Music is in our culture. You see, music in our culture is usedc to sort of defuse tension. We use music at a funeral at a funeral. We use music at a wedding. You use music when you’re lonely. You use music when you’re working. You see, it’s our culture of music. –Oliver Mtukudzu

Over the years of this festival, we have shown a number of films by the direction/producing team of John and Louise Riber—Neria (1992), More Time (1993), Everyone’s Child (1996), and Yellow Card (2000). These films all have notable soundtracks, filled with the energy, grace, and probing lyrics of some of Zimbabwe’s most talented musical composers and performers. Here, in their new documentary Shanda (which means "Work" in Shona), they focus directly on the music, life-story, warmth, and wisdom of their good friend, the legendary Oliver Mtukudzi, embodiment of what has come to be called "Tuku Music," a national treasure for Zimbabwe.

From the liner notes to the DVD/CD of Shanda:

Born in Harare (then Salisbury, Rhodesia) on September 22, 1952, Oliver was the first born in a family of six. "My first attempt to sing was my birth cry," says Oliver. He grew up in Highlands, one of Harare’s oldest townships. His parents, both gifted singers, encouraged their children to sing and perform in school and church choirs. Oliver started composing music on a 3-string guitar made out of an oil tin. As a teenager, he would sneak out with his younger brother Robert to hear the Harare Mambos perform at a local nightclub. The Mambos allowed the Mtukudzi brothers to play on their instruments during breaks.

Oliver was initiated into the world of professional music in 1977 when he joined the now legendary group The Wagon Wheelsk, which also featured Thomas Mafumo. Success came early—their first single, "Dzandimomotera," rapidly went gold. Oliver’s first album on four-track soon followed and was also a smash hit.

With a number of the musicians in the Wagon Wheels line-up, Oliver formed The Black Spirits, the band who has backed him throughout his career. Since independence, Oliver has released two albums every year, establishing himself as a producer, arranger, prolific songwriter, and, with his famous big voice, a formidable lead singer. He speaks both Shona and Ndebele and often writes songs in English as well. Oliver has, in fact, been so innovative that his music is now referred to as "Tuku Music" and is quite distinct from any other Zimbabwean style. This is not, of course, to say that there are no recognizable influences in his work—the traditional forms of mbira, the South African mbaqanga style, the metropolitan beats of Zulu, the rural trance rhythms of Zimbabwe’s Shona people, and the Zimbabwean music JIT all affect him deeply—but these, like Katekwe (the traditional drumming patterns of his clan, the Korekore), are very much absorbed into an art which is now undoubtedly his own. His music is described as simply beautiful and soulfully acoustic with clean, complex guitar lines. He is known as the "Grand Master of Zimbabwean Traditional Pop" and is undoubtedly one of the greatest soulful voices of African music. Yet, apart from the individuality of his music, Oliver’s enduring popularity has largely resulted from his powers as a hyricist. Most of his songs focus on the social and economic issues that govern people’s lives and, with an infectious sense of humor and optimism that prevails through all his music, his appeal extends to young and old alike.

Oliver has ventured into the world of film and drama, participating in several documentaries on Zimbabwean music in the ‘80s. However, it was not until 1990 that he found film success playing the lead role in the Zimbabwean film JIT, which was also released in Denmark, France, and the UK. Oliver followed the success of JIT with the role of Neria’s brother in Zimbabwe’s second feature film, Neria, for which he also wrote and arranged the soundtrack. This project addressed the issue of women’s rights in a chauvinist world. Neria proved to be another box office hit in Zimbabwe and earned Oliver the coveted M-Net Best Sountrack Award in 1992 against stiff competition, including that of the highly acclaimed Sarafina.

From film, Oliver turned his attention to drama, writing and directing the live musical production "Was My Child," a project highlighting the plight of Zimbabwe’s street children. For this, the Zimbabwe Writers Union honored him. Oliver continually performs regularly in Zimbabwe but has never confined himself to his home country. He has performed at various international events, including traveling through Europe in 1997 with a collaboration of twelve Southern African musicians called Mahlube (including Steve Dyer, Suthukazi Arosi, Phinda Mtya, and George Phiri). Mahube’s album, Music from Southern Africa, was released in 1999, followed by a series of highly successful shows in Johannesburg.

Tuku Music, Oliver’s first album to be manufactured in South Africa (and his first release to go gold there), featured the smash hit "Todii." Recorded at Ikwezi Studio in Johannesburg, it went gold in its first month of release in Zimbabwe. The album was also released in the U.K. and Ireland on Earthsongs, the rest of Europe on the Dutch label Challenge Records, and the U.S. on Putumayo World Music.

Paivepo, released in 1999, features Oliver on acoustic guitar and vocals, his band The Black Spirits, and guest appearances on two tracks by guitarists Louis Mhlanga and George Phiri. Oliver’s second South African gold album, Bvuma—Tolerance, presented 10 new songs in true Tuku style and was produced by Mahube music director and friend Steve Dyer. The album also features Steve Dyer and Themba Mkhize and the somewhat politically controversial hit song "Wasakara." In 2001, the acclaimed soundtrack for the award-winning 1992 film Neria was released for the first time on CD in South Africa. The album features the hit song of the same name, as well as a live version by Mahube.

Vunzhe Moto, featuring all new material, was released in 2002. Produced once again by Steve Dyer and co-produced by Oliver, the album features Steve Dyer on soprano sax and Paul Hanmer on keys, as well as Oliver’s extensive longtime band, The Black Spirits. The album features the song "Nda Kuvara," for which Oliver made his second music video. As usual, the songs are done in typical Tuku style and many carry hidden or direct messages, tackling issues such as HIV/AIDS awareness, alcohol abuse, respect and dignity for fellow man, importance of family, and traditional Shona proverbs or words of wisdom.

Shanda is oliver’s latest release and serves as a multimedia film, DVD, and CD tribute celebrating the remarkable career of this Zimbabwean national treasure.

The 70-minute feature documentary captures the story and spirit of this incredible musician live in township clubs and beer halls across Zimbabwe among his adoring fans. Through 10 of Oliver’s favorite songs, the film takes us on a musical journey spanning the length of his career, dating from his first recordings in the ‘70s to the hit song "Shanda," released in 2000. Live recordings were filmed at Club Hideout in Highfields (Oliver’s home township), the Sports Diner in Harare City Centre and Dzeka’s Burg Club in Mutoko (Oliver’s rural roots).

Oliver, or "Tuku" to his fans, has had a career spanning more than 20 years and 40 original albums (nearly all of them best-sellers). However, it is his dedication to the live music scene in Zimbabwe and, more recently, South Africa—playing to enthusiastic audience in even the remotest parts of the country—that has earned him a place in people’s hearts.

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