Obituary for Tawanda Gudhlanga. A friend, father, media personality and all round happy human.

The past two months have been the hardest times of my life. I have lost two close people and I have had to endure that pain without the ability of paying my last respects. As Africans, losing loved ones is sad but being able to shed a tear and tell stories of your dearly departed around family and friends gathered around a fire is such a needed mental therapy and I have not been able to do that because of my own personal restrictions in travelling + COVID, and hence why the pain is excruciating.

I opened Facebook and I saw a three pictures of Tawanda Gudlanga smiling (as usual) before reading the saddest news about his untimely death due to COVID. My heart sank and my jaw dropped. I was in the middle of a telephone conversation and immediately I dropped it to find out more about the passing of a friend who I had known well before the world knew him as a radio broadcaster, TV presenter and radio manager.

It was as if time stood still for a minute, for the second time in two months after having lost my beloved brother due to a car accident in Chivhu. I wandered into the thoughts about death again and thought about what these recent events. It was such a sad feeling that engulfed me. While I have not recovered from Bloss' death (not assuming that I will), social media once again was the bearer of sad news and this time about Tawanda who was more than just a friend or work colleague but a brother to me.

Because of these travel limitations I thought a small obituary of him in my own words and perspective would be appreciated. I thought it would be important to know where his journey started and how he became to be the medi figure and personality that you know today.

Our first encounter/ His first radio job.

I was working as a Radio DJ on a night shift at the then Spot FM radio in Harare. It was such a torrid time because I didn't enjoy the limitations that I had in getting to the studio and going back home because I had personal transport. I had to get a bus in the CBD at 6pm for my three hour show between 9pm and 12am in the evening. I stayed for the show, presented it and slept at the studio before getting the first bus before 8am the next morning. The show was called "Night Shift" and it was listeners such as Gudhlanga that made it a joy to present because of his appreciation for ballards and late night radio conversations.

He called one evening for the very first time and dedicated a song to his wife then, Noma and I played it as I always did everyone's request. After I did, he called into the studio and thanked me very much and said all sorts of pleasantries about how I was the best there is on the station, etc. I laughed because I didn't even see myself as such and in the future it would be a common conversation between us and I would (as always) tell him million reasons as to why I could never be. That night we spoke at length about music, about Noma (while she chuckled beside him and occasionally took the phone to defend herself) and about working the night shift at ZBC before he invited me to Black Steer Restaurant / Bulldogs Pub, which was situated above the famous Greatermans store in Harare, so that I could pick up some french fries before my next shift. I agreed, easily, because my meagre AA (Authors and Artists) wages could not even think of buying some food here.

The next day I was there and I met Tawanda for the first time. I was very thin for my age and he was bulky for his. We laughed when he told me he was younger than me before he ordered around a few people to make me their famous quarter chicken and chips which was packed for me to go. Bulldogs Pub would become a place of great memories shared between two new acquaintances, the their food that I enjoyed largely because Tawanda felt I was "malnourished" as he teased me. So after a brief interaction and introduction to some of his workmates, I left to catch the bus. I arrived at the studios for the night shift a well prepared "jock" and would do so for many nights to come as I now frequented the restaurant even when he was not available. Tawanda had found a way into my heart as a friend and brother through food and I had found his through the music we shared and the movies we liked to watch. It was a relationship that worked well before he decided to join me in the studio as a radio jockey, leaving me with no "free" food supply.

I introduced him to Rodney Rwende, Spot FM Chief Producer at the time and because the station was always looking for new talent, he signed up for the programme and found his way to being trained as a radio presenter. As was custom, new presenters would be trained at the less busy hours of the day and this translated to him being placed under my tutelage. We would hit these late night gigs together for a time before he qualified into his own and to his death I would always crucify him for his radio and TV presentation and remind him whose hands he came from and as always he would chuckle. Soon he would be known for his signature sign off, "Life is Good-hlangah" and still I was there to joke with him on how ridiculous that sounds.

The Friend & Family man

Throughout the years, Tawanda and I became close, always spending weekends at his home with his wife, kids and his siblings and talking about music, movies, food and how to make the elusive dollar. I met most of his family and knew a bit more about the man as we interacted and realised how much love he had for his kids more than everything else in his life. I admire that about him the most. At the time when we became close, I was still single (well almost) and I was starting out on this whole thing called life and the lessons he taught me where so profound. I did not understand them then but as I went along with life, I realised he was telling the truth. I would occasionally call him up during my dark days and he would provide much needed shoulder to cry on.

Later on in our journey, he asked me to be his Master of Ceremony at his wedding where Sam Mtukudzi and his band was playing. It was to be my very first MC gig but because he believed so much in me I made sure I didn't disappoint him. It was a lovely day and I was happy for him. Noma at this time had a young baby and I became godfather to his son. It was such a great honour because no one had ever given me those responsibilities before in my life.

We shared the love for Afro Jazz music including attending many shows at the then Jazz 105 or even at Black Steer (Acoustic sets such as Steve "Dongi" Makoni, Oliver Mtukudzi with Sam "Nzou neMhuru" sets) which he organised and I attended without fail. We listened to a lot of Louis Mhlanga and he made sure that I got into Jazz 105 telling everyone about my show and radio job. I always found that hilarious. It was an easy friendship and there were never expectations higher than that we had when we met, nothing ever changed and we both appreciated that.

Through the years I would be there for him when things were down and breakups and when her needed a listening ear, we remained in touch despite the different paths we took with our careers. We were just a phone call away even before his passing, we spoke at length about the Radio Industry and he even insisted I take a job at his new station but we disagreed on monetary terms and as usual, we laughed about it.

I admired his courage and strength and made sure I celebrated him when he moved up in life and admired his tenacity. He was a fighter, a good man and passionate on media work as seen through his rise and development.

It was his infectious smile and his ability to cut through any issue by talking his way out of it that made him become a friend to everyone he touched and worked with. I have friends that I know today because of him and I have solidified some of my friendships because of his presence in my life. I will forever cherish that. I might not be there during his family to say these words to them in person, I hope that they can be comforted by the Comforter. May they be happy with the life that he gave them and know that it is us now who wait to join him when our time comes. Cry, yes because it hurts but sooner we need to start celebrating and cherishing the times we had with Tawanda "TG" "Gooh" "Fat One" "The Big Man" Gudhlanga. Go well my friend, rest easy dude. Till we meet again.