Music
The singer, who played for Nelson Mandela at his home, had been hospitalized with “physical pain” and had previously suffered liver damage from alcoholism
South African pop singer Zahara, whose stirring voice and strident ballads earned her multiple platinum albums in her home country, has died at the age of 35.
Announcing her death, South African Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa said: “My deepest condolences go out to the Mkutukana family and the South African music industry. The government has been on the family's side for some time. Zahara and her guitar have had an incredible and lasting impact on South African music.”
Last month, her manager Oyama Dyosiba confirmed that she had been hospitalized “due to complaints of physical pain.”
She had suffered from liver disease after problems with alcoholism, which Dyosiba confirmed in 2019. Her sister Nomonde said this year doctors told her: “If….” [Zahara] If she continues to drink, she will die… We will make sure there is always someone close to her to monitor her so that she doesn't start drinking again.”
Born Bulelwa Mkutukana in 1987, Zahara was a self-taught guitarist and made her breakthrough in 2011 with her debut album Loliwe, a commercial hit that also won Album of the Year at the South African Music Awards.
She performed the theme song for Nelson Mandela at his home before his death in 2013 and later wrote a tribute song with the lyrics: “Hero of Heroes / There's nobody like him.” This song, like the rest of her discography, was released in a Mixture of Xhosa and English sung.
Her second album, Phendula, began with a collaboration with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, while the country-influenced follow-up, Country Girl, went three times platinum. After a dispute with previous label TS Records, she signed with a major label, Warner Music, for her fourth album, Mgodi.
She also campaigned against violence against women, which she described as a “pandemic” in South Africa in 2020. She said she was a survivor of an attack by a man who pepper-sprayed her in his car.
“[Men] They feel like they have a right to women, like women belong to them,” she told the BBC. “Men in South Africa only care about them.”
{{#Ticker}}
{{top left}}
{{bottom left}}
{{top right}}
{{bottom right}}
{{#goalExceededMarkerPercentage}}{{/goalExceededMarkerPercentage}}{{/ticker}}
{{Headline}}
{{#paragraphs}}
{{.}}
{{/paragraphs}}{{highlightedText}}
{{#choiceCards}}
One-time, monthly, yearly
Other
{{/choiceCards}}We will be in touch to remind you to contribute. Watch for a message in your inbox. If you have any questions about contributing, please contact us.