SAM MTUKUDZI, who died in a car crash on Monday morning just outside Harare, was to his father a bright spark when his fortunes were at an all-time low and his death represents the demise of a whole generation.

Born in 1988 around the time his father, Oliver, had relocated to Kwekwe following a brief split of the Black Spirits, Sam could have brought much joy to his family considering that he was the only son born of Daisy and Oliver.

Now his death coming when his father's career had taken off is equally as painful because it represents the death of a whole generation.

Although Sam had not matured enough to compose and let alone perform like his father, he had, by taking after him, made sure that for the next 30 or 40 years, the Tuku brand of music would be sustained.

His father was also grooming him to be in charge by easing him into, not only the music side of things, but business as well.

In doing so, a generation of the Tuku Music brand was being guaranteed.

Oliver introduced Sam to a wider audience during a tour dubbed the Tuku Family Affair in the UK in 2005 at Birmingham's Sanctuary nightclub that was packed to the rafters.

He referred to his son as "the future" as Sam came onto the stage. The then Black Spirits manager, Debbie Metcalfe, described the event thus:

"It's all rather emotional stuff, quite amazing."

Last year during his Toronto show, Oliver Mtukudzi admitted in an interview that it was a blessing having children taking after him.

"I am so thankful to God to be able to share the stage with both my children at the same time. I have also shared the stage with each of them individually.

"You know other artistes do not get the opportunity to share the gift of music with the world with their children but God sees it fit for me to do so with Sam and Selma. As an artiste, I get to experience my children as rising artistes themselves . . . that's a privilege and am honoured that I am most thankful to God," he said.

This makes Sam's death a harder blow to Oliver than any he has so far felt after the passing-on of his younger brother Robert and founding band mates more so considering that his father's message in most of his songs has always been about the pain, the disruption and anguish the passing-on of a parent, a child, a sister or a friend does to our lives.

Now whenever Oliver performs, the gap Sam has left will forever be felt and visible thereby echoing the late Simon Chimbetu's song Pane Asipo. For Oliver, the right hand he had carefully protected from any harm has been amputated and it's not an easy thing to forget a hand.

That lingering sax on Rufu off the album Dairai has been silenced and there will not be anyone who can fill the gap.

I know when Oliver was recording Dairai, the sax could make him jump with excitement saying: "Inzwa! Inzwa!"

With his son gone, he will not be jumping in excitement.

Tiri Mubindu from the album Nhava vividly captures the feeling of losing those close to us.

Sam was Oliver's flower but now God has taken him away.

Zvakafanana nemubindu reruva raoma unodiridzira, Kufanana nemubindu reruva rasvava unosakurira, Ruva rangoyevedza chete iwe kwachu watanha, wati nguva yakwana.

Rangoyevedza chete iwe dambu watanhawati nguva yakwana Anopera rumwe-rumwe Ruva rakanaka harirarame tinoritanha rangoyevedza, Munhu akanaka haararame, anotama nenguva pfupi.