Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi releases new collaboration single posthumously

Gallo Record Company and Tuku Music are proud to present Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi’s brand new duet with fellow Zimbabwean Afro-fusion musician, Mbeu titled My Better Half. This is the first release from the legendary musician since his passing three years ago. The song , which comes out on the 4th February 2022, has the soul of “Tuku” and one can feel the labour of love that was poured into the song by both Mbeu and Dr Oliver Mtukudzi.

‘My Better Half’ is from Tuku’s upcoming body of work titled, Abiangu 2 which means “friends” in Shona (Chikorekore dialect), the follow up to Abiangu (Duets Of My Time) released in 2011. The duet is a ballad that celebrates finding “the one” which is fitting as we’re nearing Valentine’s Day, in the month of love. The song starts by saying “it’s you” – “it’s you I have chosen” and breaks into the English verse that says “my better half”.

The project will embrace the digital space and will form a part of several singles to complete one body of work which will be Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi’s 68th offering. As with the first album, Abiangu 2 will follow the theme of duets the icon did with his friends in Africa and beyond. In true Tuku style, the project is his way of expressing his gratitude to his many friends who he held close to his heart and collaborated with on this project. These include Ladysmith Black Mambazo (South Africa), Mr. Nhungue (Mozambique), James Sakala (Zambia), Diamond Musica (Zimbabwe) and Mario Lucio (Cape Verde) among many others.

 Speaking on the album concept prior to his passing, Tuku shared “I cannot have a duet song with myself. It can only be a duet with a friend. Your heart which is so close to me, just as mine is to yours, can only be this close by accepting each other”.

The album is one of many initiatives that the Tuku Music Estate and family have undertaken to keep his legacy alive. One of these initiatives also included the inaugural Oliver Mtukudzi Memorial Half Marathon which took place on the third anniversary of his passing, the 23rd of January 2022.

 Mbeu Bio

Mbeu (real name Ashton Tapiwa Nyahora) is a Zimbabwean Afro-fusion musician and songwriter who was born on the 30th of September 1992. He began his music career at a young age and was nurtured and groomed by the late Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi at his Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton, Zimbabwe. Mbeu leads a seven-member band named The Mhodzi Tribe which was founded in 2016. He has since released three albums with the band.

 SmartLink to the release: lnk.to/MyBetterHalf