At the memorial service for the late South African singer Bulelwa Mkutukana, better known by her stage name Zahara, family, friends, and admirers are gathered in Johannesburg.
The celebrated Afro-pop singer passed away earlier this week following a brief illness.
It was reported that she suffered liver problems while she was in the hospital.
The family stated that they did not believe there was a malicious motive behind her passing.
On December 23, she is scheduled to be buried in the Eastern Cape.
Zahara, a famous singer from South Africa, has passed away, according to the country’s culture minister.
She was in the hospital with liver problems and the government had been helping her family for a while, according to Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa.
The singer became famous in 2011 with her album Loliwe, which was popular all over Africa.
In 2019, Zahara talked about her struggle with drinking too much alcohol.
“Zahara and her guitar made a big and long-lasting impression on South African music,” Mr Kodwa posted on X, which used to be called Twitter.
The family said the musician is in the hospital and asked people to pray for her.
She died on Monday night in a hospital in Johannesburg at 36 years old, according to SABC, a public broadcaster.
Zahara’s family wrote on her Instagram that she was a kind and loving person. A symbol of hope, a present, and a thing that brings us and many people around the world good fortune.
Fans are feeling sad and remembering good times with her on social media.
“One X user posted that she left us with really nice music. ”
Zahara released five albums and won many awards from all over the world, as well as in her own country. In 2020, she was chosen for the BBC’s 100 Women list.
The person who writes songs used her opportunity to talk about violence against women in South Africa. She said it happened to her too.
Last year, Zahara said in a radio interview that she makes music not to be famous, but to help people feel better when they are sad.
The renowned South African Afro-pop artist, Bulelwa Mkutukana, widely known as Zahara, has passed away, as announced by the country’s Culture Minister.
Zahara, celebrated for her award-winning album “Loliwe” in 2011, had been undergoing medical treatment in connection with liver complications, with government support extended to her family during this challenging period, according to Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa.
In 2019, Zahara candidly discussed her struggle with alcohol addiction, shedding light on her personal battles. Last month, her family confirmed her hospitalization and requested the South African community to keep her in their thoughts and prayers.
The news of Zahara’s passing emerged on Monday night in a Johannesburg hospital, as reported by the state-run SABC news website. Although an official statement from the family is pending, fans have already begun expressing their grief and sharing cherished memories on social media.
“Zahara and her guitar made an incredible and lasting impact in South African music,” Mr Kodwa posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“She left us with such beautiful music,” one X user posted.
Having produced five albums and receiving numerous awards, both domestically and internationally, Zahara earned a spot on the BBC’s 100 Women list in 2020. Beyond her musical achievements, Zahara utilized her influential platform to address the issue of violence against women in South Africa, courageously sharing her own experiences with such incidents.
In a radio interview last year, Zahara emphasized that her musical pursuits were driven not by a quest for recognition but rather by a sincere desire to offer solace to troubled souls in need of healing.
Renowned South African Afro-pop sensation Bulelwa Mkutukana, popularly known asZahara, has tragically passed away, as confirmed by the country’s Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Zizi Kodwa.
The celebrated singer, famous for her 2011 album “Loliwe,” had been undergoing treatment for liver complications, with government support extended to her family during this challenging period.
Zahara’s musical journey reached its pinnacle with the widespread acclaim of “Loliwe,” a beloved album resonating across the African continent.
However, her personal struggles came to light in 2019 when she candidly shared her battle with alcohol addiction.
Last month, news emerged that Zahara had been hospitalised, prompting her family to request the nation’s prayers. Regrettably, she succumbed to her health challenges on Monday night in a Johannesburg hospital, according to reports from the state-run SABC news website.
While an official statement from her family is awaited, social media has become a platform for fans to express their grief and share cherished memories of the late music icon.
Zahara’s legacy as an influential figure in the African music scene is sure to endure, leaving behind a profound impact on her admirers and the industry alike.
“Zaharaand her guitar made an incredible and lasting impact in South African music,” Mr. Kodwa posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“She left us with such beautiful music,” one X user posted.
Zahara, renowned for her five album releases, garnered numerous awards on both the local and international fronts. Notably, in 2020, she earned a spot on the BBC’s prestigious 100 Women list.
Beyond her musical achievements, Zahara utilised her influential platform to address the pervasive issue of violence against women in South Africa, courageously sharing her personal experiences.
In a poignant interview with a local radio station last year, she emphasized that her musical endeavors were driven not by a desire for recognition but by a sincere intent to provide solace to wounded souls in need of healing.
They say ‘bad news sells faster’, and Zahara seems not to be able to wrap her head around why the saying is seemingly true.
The South African songstress lists a number of achievements which should be on headlines and captions of blogs and media outlets, during an interview with Joy FM’s Lexis Bill.
She laments the culture of peddling rumours, while ignoring the facts.
“People like to dig what they do not know. Why don’t you talk about what you know”, she quizzed on Personality Profile on Joy FM last Thursday.
Zahara wonders why critics fail to shine the light bright on one of her biggest achievements of breaking the record of the iconic Brenda Fassie. “It’s not been talked about”, she lamented.
She further listed a few more milestones reached, which have been deliberately ignored by critics, including music sales, legendary performances among others. “Nobody has ever sung for Tata (Nelson Mandela) in the bedroom [apart from me], and seen Tata clap his hands”, she outlined.
As part of her achievements, Zahara was named in BBC’s 2020 100 Women list of phenomenal women who had a great influence from across the globe. “Media outlets refuse to fly with such inspiring feats,” she alleges.
“Now my album Loliwe, [the old one], is number 3 in the world… who talks about that? Nobody!”, she exclaimed.
Zahara is a South African singer and songwriter who is known for her unique powerful voice and prowess on the guitar. She holds about two dozens of awards throughout her music career and aims at setting many more records.
