THE late Oliver Mtukudzi’s iconic 1998 song, Todii (Shona for What shall we do?), remains a timeless masterpiece.
Taken from his nine-track album Tuku Music, the song’s urgent plea for collective action transcends its original context, resonating as a powerful rallying cry for any generation facing a shared crisis.
In the song, Tuku — as he was affectionately known — gives voice to a community in distress. His lyrics are not a solitary lament but a profound call for collective conversation, a search for solutions born from dialogue.
This appeal, however, is directed at a people already exhausted and ravaged by a silent virus that was eroding society’s very fabric.
The song hauntingly captures the resulting social decay: families torn apart and a generation of children left orphaned. Through Todii, Mtukudzi masterfully articulates the desperate need for unity precisely when hope seems most depleted.
Composed as an HIV and Aids awareness song, the track remains compelling due to its multi-angled approach, which is applicable in questioning some of today’s societal issues such as the drug abuse pandemic among young people.
Twenty-six years later, the iconic title resurfaces with new meaning and is the spirit behind this year’s edition of the Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival of the Arts (OMiFa). The festival runs under the theme “Todii-Senzeni-What shall we do?”, a loose translation of “Senzenjani?” in IsiNdebele.
The two-day fiesta begins today at the Pakare Paye Arts Centre in Norton and will conclude tomorrow. It is a celebration of Mtukudzi’s legacy, whose hoarse voice resonated with music lovers from all over the world.
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Now in its second edition, festival-goers should look out for legendary South African kwaito and Afro-pop group Bongo Maffin, who will be the headlining act.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome the iconic sounds of Bongo Maffin to the OMiFa stage,” said festival director Samantha Mtukudzi.
“Their music carries a message of unity and social consciousness that resonates across generations. Alongside Jah Prayzah, who has been a major pillar of support for the festival, and our incredible line-up of local talent, this year truly embodies the spirit of international celebration and artistic excellence that OMiFa was founded upon.”
Formed in 1996, the band is led by Zimbabwean-born artist Jah Seed (formerly Apple Seed). They are known for several hit songs, including The Way Kungakhona from the 2001 album Bongolution and Thathi sghubhu from The Concerto album (1998), among others.
Organisers said that they have put together an event that will feature live music performances by celebrated and emerging artists, including Feli Nandi, Tamy Moyo, Jah Signal, Saintfloew, Agga Nyabinde, Hwamanda, Mandava, SaMasamba, Vee Mhofu, Terry Mbofana, Tatenda Mhangami and Munya Nyamarebvu.
The line-up also includes The Black Spirits featuring Afro-pop artist Gary Tight, who was very close to Mtukudzi and his son, the late Sam Mtukudzi.
Organised by Tuku Music (Pvt) Ltd, OMiFa is held at the historic arts centre in Norton, a space envisioned and built by Tuku himself as a creative haven for Zimbabwean talent. It is a platform for cultural exchange, artistic innovation, and community celebration.
The event programming also includes a children’s zone complete with games, art-making, and performances in a safe, engaging environment, as well as multidisciplinary arts such as dance, spoken word, fashion, film, literature and visual art.
The festival’s creative director, Marcus Gora, told IndependentXtra that this year’s festival will focus on the kids’ festival programme taking place tomorrow morning.
“This dedicated family-friendly space, featuring activities and performances for younger audiences, is a key investment in the future of the arts and a core part of the festival’s growing vision,” he said.
From the established greatness of Bongo Maffin to the incredible new voices on the lin-eup — and most importantly, with the launch of the kid’s festival — organisers emphasised that they are not merely hosting an event but nurturing the next generation of artists and arts lovers.
This, they affirmed, is the future of OMiFa.
