NORTON – During a weekend that was meant to celebrate the life of Oliver Mtukudzi, his daughter Selmor Mtukudzi found herself in the spotlight after she was reportedly snubbed at a dinner held at Pakare Paye in Norton.
The Mtukudzi family feud took a fresh twist this weekend, when Selmor walked off stage after performing one song during the inaugural Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival of the Arts (OMIFA).
Selmor had been initially excluded from the list of artistes that were penciled in to perform at the event.
However, after public outrage, she found herself included among those that would perform during an event meant to celebrate the late music icon.
Despite the family seemingly burying the hatchet, Selmor’s performance failed to take off on Saturday night, as she broke down emotionally and worked off stage one song into her set.
“I have wanted to be on this stage for so many years but was always denied the chance,” she said.
“If it weren’t for you, my supporters, I wouldn’t be here. How long will you keep fighting for me? I wonder if the dead can hear.
“I want to thank my father, who worked hard to build this wonderful place, but what he wanted is not what’s happening now… How long will I be treated like an outsider at my own father’s events?”
Despite efforts from her sister Sandra, husband Tendai Manatsa, and Tuku’s legendary dancer Eric “Piki” Kasamba to comfort and encourage her to continue, Selmor was too emotional to carry on with her performance.
Away from the stage, it seems that another episode of the drama unfolded in a private setting.
In a video posted on a local gossip website, a woman alleges that Selmor was reportedly snubbed during a dinner at Pakare Paye.
According to the poster, everyone at the party reportedly walked off when Selmor entered the building, as tensions between her and Tuku’s wife, Daisy, continued to simmer.
The woman in the video can be heard castigating Daisy for being hard-hearted.
Meanwhile, gospel singer Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave was forced to delete a post in which she weighed in on the saga.
“Ini muchishona ndirikungoti, Sorry yaigadzira mazimbe emoto and yaisiya chitsvambe kwavari especially because we know hapana chakatadzikwa. I am sorry kana zvisina kubatika,” she had posted.
However, backlash from those that felt that she had erred forced the gospel singer to delete her post.
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