SELMOR Mtukudzi says she has been humbled by the outpouring of support from the public in the wake of the controversy triggered by her initial snub from the list of performers at the Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival of the Arts.
The festival is set for September 21-22 at Pakare Paye Arts Centre.
Selmor told H-Metro yesterday that the whole ordeal has overwhelmed her to such an extent that she feels she deserves some privacy at this time.
“I feel disappointed and heartbroken. I can’t say much,” she told H-Metro.
“I feel l would appreciate some privacy at the moment but, above all, l want to thank you all for the support, l appreciate it.
“That’s all l can say for now.”
There has been a huge public outcry from Zimbabweans, which has played out largely on social media, after her name did not appear on the list of perfomers. There were even calls from the public for fans to snub the festival, in solidarity with Selmor, while others targeted those who were performing at the event.
Broadcaster Rodrick Mashingaidze said:
“All artists with dignity and self-respect should just not participate in that sham.
“This is totally disgraceful to the Mtukudzi family and no fans must attend that event.”
One of the organisers Samantha Mtukudzi who is a step-sister to Selmor could not respond to questions sent to her by this newspaper and subsequent calls to her phone went unanswered.
However, Tuku’s widow and Samantha’s mother, Daisy Mtukudzi, told the Herald that she was fed up with the Selmor row.
“I am tired of that issue because people will always put the blame on me.
“I was told by the event organisers that she was not picking up her calls.
“Selmor was supposed to be at the forefront leading us, but she is difficult said Daisy, adding she will not lose sleep over people planning a boycott since it “will change nothing”.
“As for Selmor, she should not wait to be invited when family events of this magnitude are being organised,” she said.
Daisy also dismissed assertions that Selmor was being treated like an outcast.
“I don’t know what people want me to do for Selmor because she is not a minor anymore. She knows the right thing to do for the sake of protecting the family name,” she said.
There has been a spirited public outcry from Zimbabweans in entertainment circles and on social media on why the organisers of the event snubbed Selmor. The public has been calling for a snub of the event in solidarity with Selmor.
Veteran entertainment journalist, Mthandazo Dube, said he feels Selmor should not play children from everything.
“However, they still carry their father’s name. Selmor is by far the most musically talented, consistent and most visible of Oliver’s offspring.
“She has enough social capital to start her own festival. I don’t think that legally she can be stopped by anyone.”
Dube feels the support, which Selmor has received from Tuku’s fans from all over the world, shows that she can start her own festival.
He said her festival can even overshadow the festival which Daisy would be running.
The Tuku Arts Festival is an event which is being organised to commemorate the late national hero who succumbed to diabetes on January 23, 2019.
Several artists have been lined up to perform.
They include superstar Jah Prayzah, Feli Nandi, Killer T, Andy Muridzo, Hope Masike, Mokoomba, Black Spirits featuring Mbeu, Vazukuru veAfrica, Gemma, Fusion 5 Mangwiro and Agga Nyabinde, among others.
