Listen to Oliver Mtukudzi’s posthumous single ‘My Better Half’

4 Feb 2022 - 12:00

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

Gallo Record Company and Tuku Music have released Oliver Mtukudzi’s posthumous single ‘My Better Half’ featuring Zimbabwean Afro-fusion musician Mbeu.

The late Oliver Mtukudzi and Mbeu.

The song is available for streaming and download on all major digital platforms and is the first release from the legendary musician since his death in 2019. It is off Mtukudzi’s upcoming eight-track album Abiangu 2, which is set for release on his birthday on 22 September. The album will be a follow-up to the Abiangu (Duets of My Time) album released in 2011.

On ‘My Better Half’, Mtukudzi and Mbeu employed their lyrical prowess with beautifully arranged guitars and percussion. The ballad celebrates finding love and could be a perfect song for lovebirds ahead of Valentine’s Day on 14 February.

“I cannot have a duet song with myself,” Mtukudzi said before his passing. “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.”

‘My Better Half’ forms part of Mtukudzi’s selection of songs that will complete his 68th offering. Abiangu 2 will follow a format of duets that the musician completed with his friends from Africa and beyond. It will feature Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Mr. Nhungue, James Sakala, Diamond Musica and Mario Lucio.

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

Mtukudzi was known for his humble and soft demeanour, and music that cut across cultures and generations. He released his debut album Ndipeiwo Zano (Give Me an Idea). The album was rereleased in 2000 due to its iconic status. His last offering before his death, Hany'Ga (Concern), was released in 2018.

Mbeu, born Ashton Tapiwa Nyahora in 1992, began his music career at a young age and was nurtured and groomed by Mtukudzi at his Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton, Zimbabwe. He leads a seven-member band called The Mhodzi Tribe, which was founded in 2016. He has released three albums with the band since its formation.