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Oliver Mtukudzi receiving the ‘degree’

Fred Zindi Music Column
I am heartbroken and disappointed to learn that prominent musician and superstar, Oliver Mtukudzi, was awarded an alleged fake honorary doctorate degree by an unregistered institution which is not even affiliated to any university.
This institution calls itself The International Institute of Philanthropy (IIP).
I was even more amazed to see a picture of Professor  Boniface Chivore, whom I work with at the University of Zimbabwe presenting the “degree certificate”.

He should have known better than to accept such an assignment because IIP is not a university and  universities are the  only institutions allowed to offer degrees. When I asked Professor Chivore in what capacity he conferred the degree to Oliver Mtukudzi and others, he arrogantly replied, “ I did not violate anybody’s position, so to hell with anybody who wants to know what my business there was!”

I am not sure what the motive behind IIP was. It certainly used Oliver Mtukudzi’s good name to get attention for itself.
Energy Mutodi, a businessman-cum-musician-cum-politician, writes: “This fellow called Enrico Sibanda is up to no good, I tell you. He is dishing out fake degrees to unsuspecting recipients to attract relevance. Sibanda is trying to win the hearts of our music icon, Oliver Mtukudzi’s fans by conferring a doctorate on him. He even has the courage to give Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri’s wife, Isabel, a fake doctorate. He should be arrested!”

I remember writing some three years ago that Oliver Mtukudzi should be given a Ph.D by the University of Zimbabwe. This proposal was accepted by most members of the university community and even those outside it such as Dr Obadiah Moyo aka Biscuit, the director of Chitungwiza Hospital. We lobbied hard to get Oliver this recognition, but it seems the University of Zimbabwe was not ready for this.

If I knew that anyone could confer degrees, I would have long ago gone to ask Chicken Inn  or some other organisation to confer the doctorate to Oliver Mtukudzi as he more than deserves it.

I was there at the University of Zimbabwe in 1999 when Thomas Mapfumo was awarded an honorary Masters’ Degree together with other celebrities who included the late  Dr Joshua Nkomo. The Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, President Mugabe, capped all the degree recipients on this occasion. In 2009, after he had relocated to the United States, Thomas was conferred with another honorary degree, this time a doctorate, by the University of Ohio.

Thomas’ experiences and contributions to the Zimbabwe culture, considering probability and magnitude, are no more greater than those encountered by Oliver Mtukudzi. As a matter of fact, Oliver Mtukudzi has since exceeded Thomas Mapfumo’s  philanthropic achievements.
Yet, we refer to  Thomas as “Doctor” and the latter, who happens to be one of Zimbabwe’s most important cultural ambassadors, as “Mister”.

Titles distinguish the amount of respect society gives to the talented from that given to the mediocre. This is why the Queen of England has given MBE awards which come with titles to achieving personalities such as  Sir Cliff Richard, Sir Elton John, Sir Rod Stewart, Sir Mick Jagger, Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Richard Branson and so forth. For many years now the University of Zimbabwe Council has been dilly-dallying about whether to award Mtukudzi with an honorary doctorate degree or not.

The Women’s University in Africa, a recently established educational institution, did not waste time on this as they knew that no-one in the arts deserved this accolade more than Oliver. On October 30th, 2009, they went ahead and beat the University of Zimbabwe to it. They awarded Oliver with an honorary masters’ degree at their graduation ceremony held in Chisipite Gardens. They could have gone further to award him with a doctorate degree, but unfortunately at the time the Women’s University in Africa did not have the capacity to do so as it was not offering doctorate programmes even to its students.

The University of Zimbabwe’s Council may not recognise Tuku’s contribution to society, but all its members, quietly enjoy his music. However, the University of Zimbabwe still has an opportunity to award him with an honorary doctorate, like they did for Dr Gideon Gono a few years ago. This is hardly a difficult move. It is only pessimists who see the difficulty in an opportunity while the optimists see the opportunity in every difficulty. If the University of Zimbabwe had given “Samanyanga” Tuku this degree, we would not be embroiled in this IIP controversy today.

Oliver was born on the 22nd September, 1952 in a family of six.  At the age of seven he went to Chipembere Primary School and later on to Highfield Secondary School in Harare.  In 1971, he left school to start a music career.

It was not easy at first because his parents did not approve.  It was only after he had learned to play the guitar and started bringing money to the family that his parents began to reluctantly accept his interest in music. Oliver later met Moses Kabubi who gave him further lessons in music before he went to record a single called “Pezuma” together with his sister Bybit, who was the singer then.

Oliver admits that Thomas Mapfumo (who was instrumental in reviving ethnic music) had a great influence on him.   His debut album with the Black Spirits entitled “Africa”, which included two hits “Zimbabwe” and “Rufu Ndimadzongonyedze” sold enough copies to qualify for gold record status.

With his gusty voice, the trademark cough and a talent for writing songs that reflect on the daily life of the people of Zimbabwe, his homeland, Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi began to blend his southern African music traditions which include mbira, mbaqanga, jit, and the traditional drumming of the Korekore, known as kateke drumming, with soulful rhythms. This created such a unique sound which he respectfully dubbed “Tuku Music.”

It was not until the late 1990’s that Tuku Music really took off to a higher level. By 1999 Tuku had churned out 49 albums. It was not until 2001 when he released the album “Bvuma/Tolerance” that the whole country as well as the international world began to pay serious attention to Oliver Mtukudzi. Zimbabweans in the diaspora, especially those in South Africa and England began to invite Oliver to perform for them in these countries.

Between 1999 and 2004, Tuku also performed or recorded with several other international artists such as Ringo Madlingozi, Carlos Santana, Taj Mahal, Baaba Maal, Toumani Diabete, Judith Sephuma, Louis Mhlanga, Lucky Dube and several others.

During his spare time, Tuku would dedicate his services to the community by taking part in AIDS awareness programmes as well as giving charity performances.

Among his several achievements, Tuku began to construct Pakare Paye Arts Centre in 2004 near his home in  Knowe, Norton some 40 kilometres outside Harare. It is at this centre that Tuku began to give Zimbabwean youngsters opportunities to develop their own skills in music and drama, free of charge. This was seen by many as the beginning of Tuku’s philanthropic moves. He involved himself with anti-AIDS campaigns more recently with the plight of the people who experienced the Tokwe-Mukosi flood disaster. UNICEF saw it fit to make him the regional goodwill ambassador. Tuku  spoke out against stigma, discrimination and abuse of children through his music.

His music has gone beyond the Zimbabwean borders and inspired leaders from Government and Civil Society as well as parents to take more positive steps in promoting children’s rights.

Apart from that Oliver Mtukudzi  did the honourable thing by leading a team of 30 local artists to visit and see for themselves the plight of the Tokwe-Mukosi flooding victims who have, since February this year, been accommodated at Chingwizi holding camp in Mwenezi. That is inspirational.

In short, everyone recognises the contribution Oliver has made to the cultural industry of Zimbabwe. His contributions are immense and everyone I have spoken to agrees with me that it is time he was awarded an honorary doctorate by a reputable university in this country – a degree without controversy that will be recognised nationally and internationally. After all, charity begins at home.

Which Zimbabwean, in this country or in the diaspora, does not know of Oliver’s  immense contribution to Zimbabwe?  I remain optimistic!

Fred Zindi is a Professor at the University of Zimbabwe. He is also a musician and an author of several books on music. He can be contacted via e-mail on   [email protected]