A VERY PROUDLY
AFRICAN DIVA
SONGSTRESS Berita Khumalo’s love for music is a combination of many things.
She grew up listening to a lot of radio and picked up on diverse music.
“I listened to everyone from Miriam Makeba to Bra Hugh Masekela. I loved Youssou N’Dour, Salif Keita, Brenda Fassie and mam’ Yvonne Chaka Chaka’s music as well,” she said.
The bubbly guitarist didn’t know why she loved music so much. For a while she thought she would become an academic, but it was in her late teenage years when she finally realised singing was her thing.
“My family moved from Zimbabwe during the time when the economic situation was really tough. They moved us all to New Zealand and we worked as dairy farmers. That experience as an immigrant in another country was difficult and it awakened me. I wanted to express myself.”
Khumalo’s latest release, Surprises, off her upcoming third album, was written when things weren’t going well for her with her second album, Songs of Empowerment.
“It’s groovy. A song that everyone can jam to. It is different from other songs I have done before because people are used to my ballads, but with this one there is a more groovy, jazz afro soul feel to it,” she said.
The songwriter made an impact in the industry with her hit Thandolwethu, from the award-winning first album Conquering Spirit. She released another hit single, Nguwe Wedwa, in July last year, which also made waves on the radio charts.
Her self-titled third album will come out in April and is filled with influences from the likes of legendary artists Makeba and Letta Mbulu.
“I also have contemporary influences like Solange and Alicia Keys. It will be music with soul and it will take people places,” she said.
Khumalo is working on getting the music video for Surprises out soon. She said her intention was to make it bright and colourful – a mood she wants to set to inspire people.
“It has to be a video that celebrates life and the African continent. I’m very proud of the African woman that I am. I show it in the way I dress and present myself, and I want to express that.”
Khumalo said the album would be full of “big songs” that she has lined up until the end of the year, so people can expect lots of singles and videos.
She also intends to do a lot of promotions for her songs, get some touring done and play at many venues to promote her music across borders, not just in South Africa.
“I consider myself an African jewel, and I’m a lover of this life,” she said.
The 25-year-old singer said that if there was any tune that would set the tone for the year, it would definitely be Surprises.
“Sometimes we get so caught up in the world, and with social media adding to the mix, we sometimes need to stop and smell the roses.”
I’m very proud of the African woman that I am