Daily Dispatch

Good turnout at EL album launch leaves gospel star Mcinga in awe

- By SINO MAJANGAZA sinom@dispatch.co.za

THOUSANDS of gospel music lovers proved Lusanda Mcinga wrong when they packed the Orient Theatre to its capacity on Sunday when the singer and her son were launching their albums in East London.

Speaking to the Daily Dispatch after the show, the award-winning legendary guitarist and singer admitted that since she started her music career in the mid-1990s, she was unsure how East London people felt about her music.

“I always assumed that they don’t like me or my music. I was really scared to come here. What they have done today shocked me. I am overwhelme­d with emotions. I have no words to express my gratitude to the love they have showed me.

“What they have done has proven that they always loved my music,” she said.

Mcinga said even when she launched her previous album at the O R Tambo Hall in Mthatha, one of her stronghold­s, “the attendance was not like this ... this was huge”.

“As from today, people of East London will always have a special space in my heart,” she said.

The last time the venue was packed to capacity in a gospel music event was when the former Youth With Mission co-lead singer Malibongwe Gcwabe was at the peak of his career after he quit the group in the mid2000s.

The venue was a place of praise and worship with artists like Dumi Mkokstad, Jumbo, Sgwili, Yolanda and Butho Vuthela performing on Sunday.

Mcinga was launching her 19th studio album titled Intsikelel­o, while her son, Bethusile was launching his

fourth album called The Highest Praise.

One of the event organisers, Aviwe Gqomfa said they had to convince Mcinga to attend the event.

“Even on the days closer to the event she was still saying it boldly that she was not going to be part of the show. Her reason was that she is scared of the East London audience, but eventually she agreed to come,” he said.

Mcinga singer burst onto the music industry in 1995 with the release of her debut album Simethembi­le.

The Willowvall­e-born made became a household name with hits like

Jerusalema, Shiyan’izono and

Bayavuma, to mention a few. Looking at her journey, Mcinga said it had not been an easy ride.

“But the support and encouragem­ent from my supporters kept me going. While I am on my weakest moment, I would meet someone who would tell me that I must keep on they love me and my music. It is those type of messages that kept me going,” she said.

Mcinga said she was still going to launch the album in Mthatha, where she is now based.

“We have not forgotten about people from Mthatha, we are still going to do the launch there,” she said. —

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