By Paul Nyathi|Legendary Zimbabwean musician Oliver Mtukudzi who died today, died on the same day as celebrated South African trumpeter and Jazz artiste Hugh Masekela who was a close friend of his.

Mtukudzi died at a Harare hospital on Wednesday, January 23.

Mtukudzi was rushed to hospital early this week after he was overwhelmed by an ailment at 66.

On January 23, another Jazz legend – Hugh Masekela – breathed his last.

Masekela died from prostate cancer on the mentioned date last year.

He had been battling the disease since 2008.

Masekela, who died aged 78, was the recipient of two Grammy Award nominations for his two albums Grazin’ in the Grass and Jabulani, awarded in 1968 and 2011.

Affectionately known as Tuku, Mtukudzi was just 23 when he started recording music. 

Since then, along with his band The Black Spirits, he has produced more than 60 albums. His unique style, drawing on a variety of influences, is known as Tuku Music.

The multi-award winning artist also contributed to the development of the next generation of Zimbabwean musicians, from the Pakare Paye Arts Centre that he built in Norton, a town near Harare.

Mtukudzi was known for hits such as Todii and Neria and was arguably Zimbabwe’s most celebrated artist ever. 

Apart from his music, Mtukudzi was heavily involved in matters of human rights across the continent and held a slew of prestigious human rights awards, including The International Council For Africana Womanism Award, which was in recognition of his role in the upliftment of African women through his artistic work.