Godwin Muzari
31 October 2009
IT is uncommon for musicians' wives to intervene in their husbands' careers but Oliver Mtukudzi's wife Daisy has decided to take a different route.
Previously content with supporting her husband from a distance, the first lady of Katekwe music has strengthened her ties with The Black Spirits the band that backs Mtukudzi.
For a couple of months, Daisy has been directly involved with the band but maintains that she will keep away from the stage forever. She travels with The Black Spirits on most international tours and attends some of their local gigs.
Daisy had no intention of taking part in music but her involvement has proved inevitable. She is now a permanent part of the Tuku Music family. She has been involved in the arts in various capacities over the past years during which she featured on some of her husband's musical videos.
But that was the closest she flirted with the active music business since her current role is just advisory.
Standard plus interviewed Daisy on the sidelines of her husband's birthday bash in Norton recently during which she spoke at length about her part in the band, her business and family.
She revealed that that she has thrown more of her weight behind her husband's career.
"It was inevitable that I get involved in music. When I fell in love with Mtukudzi, he was not famous and I did not even know that he was Tuku the musician," she explained.
"I was surprised when he opened up sometime down the relationship and I was confused. I knew my family would not take anything of that. They would never tolerate their daughter marrying a musician because the artists were regarded as immoral and directionless."
She had to brave criticism from family and friends through marriage and first phases of the matrimony.
Daisy never thought she would one day have anything to do with the band and just respected the space between her and Tuku music, which was still strange to her.
Their relationship was anchored on true love as her husband's profession exhibited its ups and downs.
"It was a matter of persevering through trials and tribulations," she recalls.
So what has led to the strong ties with the band?
"I got closer and closer to the guys. I would see them off at the airport and meet them on return. My interest was marginal and I was just doing it for my husband.
"But that bond grew gradually and I began to develop personal relationships with most band members.
"We shared experiences and problems and they began looking up to me as their mother."
Daisy says she would travel with the band on rare occasions but those moments strengthened her relationship with the musicians.
"When such a bond is created, you automatically become part of the family. Some came to me with their problems while others simply enjoyed my company. I began to reciprocate."
The relationship grew stronger and now she attends most of their international tours.
She has travelled with the groups across the globe and values the interaction that she has with the female members of the band.
"They are all my children's age and I just treat them as my children. They introduce me to their boyfriends and I give them advice whenever need arises."
Daisy says she has been involved on managerial issues at times and praises band manager Sam Mataure for his focus and hard work.
She has all the praises for her husband, whom she says has been the pillar of her life.
She is always mesmerized by Mtukudzi's performance on stage.
"You can see him jumping up to that level (gesturing). Sometimes I wonder kuti baba ava vachamuka here (whether he will wake up the following morning)."
Daisy is in the cosmetics and catering business, which has helped her supplement income from her husband's projects.
She has two children with Mtukudzi, Samantha and Sam while the musician's other two daughters Sandra and Selmor are from his first marriage.
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