Songbird receives an Ingoma nomination
KAMAGUGU - One of the province’s songbirds, Pretty Mhlongo, has been nominated for the upcoming Independent National Gospel Music Awards (Ingoma).
The award ceremony aims to recognise the hard work and standard of independent gospel artists as well as to promote and expose upcoming talent.
Born into a Christian family, Mhlongo started singing gospel music from an early age while attending Sunday school.
She became a professional musician in the late 2000s.
Mhlongo has won a number of gospel awards in the province for her three albums, Imvuselelo,
Your Name and Season of Worship.
Songs like “Gamelihle”, “Uthando lwakho Jesu” and “UnguJehova ungu Thixo” are some of her hits on her latest offering.
Talking about her secret to success, Mhlongo said she uses prayer as her greatest weapon and pillar of strength in difficult times and when things run smoothly in her life.
“Above all else, prayer is the main thing that helps me and brings me back to myself when I face hard times.
“Although challenges will always be there, staying grounded in your path and purpose brings more solutions than problems in most cases. I’m definitely a woman of prayer,” she said.
During the lockdown, Mhlongo and her husband, Selby, have been featuring other gospel artists on their Gospel Relay Online on a number of social media platforms which stream live every Sunday.
Beside music Mhlongo also runs a baking company.
She said she is excited about the Ingoma nomination and hopes she will bring the award home.
“The fact that we can still be recognised as artists even during these trying times of Covid-19 means that we are still on the right track. I am honoured and grateful for this nomination,” she said.
Voting lines for the Ingoma Awards are open until October 11.
To vote for Pretty Mhlongo simply SMS “INGOMA best female artist, Pretty Mhlongo” and “INGOMA best worship album, Pretty Mhlongo” to 40439.