Sekgobela lifts up eyes to mountain
Gospel star renews soul in Lesotho for next recording
Lebo Sekgobela has cast her eyes beyond Lion of Judah, the song that transformed her into a queen of gospel.
Sekgobela’s career took a turn for the skies with the release of the song in 2016. She became a force in music and travelled the world after years of bubbling under with a few releases under her belt.
A self-assured and confident Sekgobela tells me there is life after Lion of Judah and she will prove that on May 5 when she returns to the stage to record her next CD and DVD at Rhema Bible Church.
“I enjoyed the ride with Lion of Judah. I let the album Restored minister to people, but now I’m broody and ready for the next chapter, mabele a tomosong [the time is ripe].” Sekgobela, who recorded Restored at Hope Restoration Church near Kempton Park, says she will always be an ordinary church girl.
“I needed the space of a church that could accommodate many people. The family has grown, it’s not only QwaQwa, it’s the whole of Free State, Gauteng, North West, Limpopo and the rest of the country.” The new material will include her mainstay of hymns and will be littered with collaborations. She has been experimenting with languages after the parts of Lion of Judah that she sang in Shona yielded a spectacular feedback. She lets slip that she is currently learning two languages.
As part of calibrating and rebooting for the next chapter, Sekgobela retreated to the mountains of Lesotho last month. “It was amazing, I could stay there for two months. The air was ordained from heaven and I was delighted to be in the presence of God and see the beauty of his creation.
“It rained most of the time, and I saw that as a blessing. Every morning when I woke up there was a song in my heart. I even cut my hair off as part of the renewal.
“I was in a good place and I also experienced the humility of Basotho and that taught me to always be humble.”
While she has enjoyed success with her national tour, she is embarking on an international leg that will take her back to the UK, Ghana and more African countries.
Sekgobela has just returned from Zimbabwe where she was part of the voter registration drive, largely due to the appeal of her song that resonated with Shona speakers.
She was nominated for Best Female and Most Inspirational Artist in Africa at the Afrimma Awards in Nigeria last year.
Sekgobela is aware of the expectations to match and surpass the success of Lion of Judah, but is unperturbed. “Let us accept what God will put in my heart. People should be revived and see the love of God.”
Next Saturday, Sekgobela stages a concert in Vaal Marina to benefit the community devastated by a tornado last year. She will also donate school shoes to the needy.
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