The inaugural Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival of the Arts (OMIFA), intended to celebrate the legacy of the late music icon, instead brought long-simmering family tensions to the fore.
Emotional revelations from Mtukudzi’s daughters, Selmor and Sandra, have painted a troubling picture of their upbringing and exposed deep divisions within the family.
The controversy began with Selmor’s tearful exit from the stage after performing just one song.
In a subsequent podcast interview with DJ Ollah 7, Selmor and Sandra shared harrowing details about their experiences growing up in the Tuku household under the care of their stepmother, Daisy.
Selmor described the emotional turmoil she experienced performing at Pakare Paye Arts Centre for the first time since her father’s death.
“It was my first time performing at the Pakare Paye stage after the death of my father. I became emotional when we arrived only to see my father’s office locked. When I appeared on stage, I was touched by the people who showed me love,” she explained.
She dismissed claims that her song selection was directed at Daisy, saying, “During my show, I always start with the song “Changu Chiiko,” and then “Seiko’ with a low tempo. We then shift gears as we proceed as has become the norm at our shows. People who frequent our shows know our playlist better and that playlist was not targeted at anyone…”
Selmor expressed her hurt at being omitted from the initial festival lineup, only receiving a last-minute invitation via email.
“To my surprise, the organising team started planning this event in June,” she revealed, questioning the reasons behind her exclusion.
She also refuted claims of budgetary constraints, stating, “To my surprise, I have never asked for payment to perform at family events. I was also shocked when the organisers told me that they had a tight budget for the show.”
Expressing her willingness to participate in family events, Selmor lamented her frequent exclusion.
“It’s quite unfortunate that they keep on excluding me from family events,” she stated. She also revealed her late father’s desire for the family to collaborate on a song before his passing, a wish thwarted by Daisy’s resistance.
“His situation was difficult because of Mama (Daisy) who didn’t want us to be close to him,” Selmor explained.
She paid tribute to her late half-brother Sam, describing him as a “different person altogether. He knew his bloodline. At one point, he bought an expensive watch for her sister Selby after an international tour.”
Selmor also appealed to the public to refrain from involving her husband, Tendai Manatsa, in the family drama.
“Tendai should not be included in this issue. He is only a son-in-law who should not be dragged into this matter,” she emphasized.
Sandra, echoing Selmor’s sentiments, identified Daisy as the primary obstacle to family unity.
“Before our father died, he sat down with all his daughters, including Samantha, and advised us to unite. He advised us to plan family events together. To my shock, she appears to have forgotten all that our dad has taught us,” Sandra revealed.
She pointed to an event in Madziva attended by Daisy, Samantha, and Faith, from which she and other family members were excluded.
“The exclusion is not only about Selmor, but all of Tuku’s daughters and family members,” she clarified.
Sandra, who travelled from the United Kingdom for the festival, expressed her willingness to work towards family reconciliation.
“I am open to dialogue and anything that can unite you as a family. Family events should also be in harmony and unity. We are open for a mediator to come and unite this family,” she stated.
She shared a personal anecdote about financial difficulties while attending college in Norton, a situation that improved only after her father intervened.
“When I was going to college while staying with Mama (Daisy) in Norton, I was always in arrears. It was a private college where I was learning with kids from rich backgrounds. Things normalised after Dad contacted the principal to inform him about everything which was needed in school,” she explained.
Sandra painted a stark picture of her life with Daisy, describing her as a “typical stepmother,” both “wicked and selfish.”
She recounted a particularly painful incident during her teenage years: “I remember this incident in Glenwood, Kwekwe, I was 16, and dad and his new wife were building a house in Norton, the green house. I was not informed about the house, even though other children knew. After the house was done, Dad came to bid us farewell. I didn’t know the date they were moving out.”
She continued, describing returning home to find the house empty.
“I went home and it was a sorrowful state. I was hurt. The house was empty and I didn’t know where they went,” she recalled.
Sandra also revealed being forced to share food with the family dog while her siblings received preferential treatment.
“I would be told that I had to share the pot with the dog. We had a dog called Kwanai and while others were eating rice, I would be told that I would get my sadza from the same put as Kwanai,” she shared.
Daisy’s recent claims of being cyberbullied and portrayed as cruel stand in stark contrast to the accounts given by Selmor and Sandra. Their emotional testimonies have opened a window into the complexities of the Mtukudzi family dynamics and raised questions about the true nature of their relationships.
These revelations have undoubtedly cast a shadow over the intended celebration of Oliver Mtukudzi’s legacy, leaving many hoping for reconciliation and healing within the family.
Watch the full interview below:
