Daughter of the late musician Oliver Mtukudzi says despite her suffering at the hands of her step mother Daisy Mtukudzi, she has reasons to be thankful to fans who have rallied behind her.
Overwhelmed by emotions, Selmor broke down on stage, compelling her to cut short her performance at the Oliver Mtukudzi International Festival (Omifa), her late father’s inaugural fete at Pakare Paye Arts Centre yesterday.
Selmor, who featured one of the celebrated Black Spirits band members Piki Kasamba in her backing group, appeared to be ready for the event.
However, she was overwhelmed by emotions.
“I have wanted to be on this stage for so many years while being barred. If it wasn't for you fighting for me, I wouldn't have made it here. Till when will you fight for me? I wonder if the dead can hear," she said.
“I want to thank my late father who worked to build us such a beautiful place, but what he wanted is not what is happening today, it is not right.
“When are you going to fight for me every time, my brothers? How long will it take for me not to be treated like a child here?”
At one point according to close sources she was not allowed to host an album launch at the same facility.
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Though Daisy has tried to picture Selmor as a hard to get, events have suggested otherwise.
“When they engaged her to perform she did not ask for money, in her response she asked when did she start charging for events to celebrate his father?” said a family source.
“It is not a secret that Selmor is the person who can just take Pakare Paye to the next stage.
“She is right to say that is not my father's wish, she knows exactly why she is saying that.”
The source said Tuku wanted all his children together and at some point he organised a luncheon for all of them.
“Tuku wanted a united family, but this lady blocked him and now she thinks she can also block the kids from taking their share of the cake,” said the source.
“Relatives have tried to intervene, but she started accusing them of wanting Tuku's property.”
Initially, Selmor was excluded from the Omifa line-up only to be featured after a public outcry.
Jah Prayzah, Feli Nandi, Mokoomba, Gemma Griffiths, Bryan K and Mary Anibal are part of the inaugural two-day event, which is being held in memory of the late Tuku, who died at the age of 66 on January 23, 2019.
Djembe Monks, Andy Muridzo, Fusion 5 Mangwiro, Nisha T, Mwendamberi (Solution GC), Taffie Matiure and Gwevedzi ReDefined are among the performers.
