Daughter helps Chana recover
HIS BABY daughter Nia kept him going through the dark times after he was mistaken for a kidnapper and shot by the police. It changed South African rapper Khuli Chana’s life.
Speaking to The Independent on Saturday this week prior to the launch of his documentary Picking Up The Pieces in Johannesburg on Thursday night, Chana said the seconds in which the police pumped nine bullets into his vehicle at the New Road garage in Midrand in October 2013, had turned his world upside down.
“It has taken me a while to get to a place where I am comfortable and courageous enough to talk about it.
“That story stole my fire when I was at the peak of my career. It came in there and changed everything,” he says.
Chana, whose real name is Khulane Morule, was at the top of his game with his hit Lost in Time. He had won a multitude of international and national awards, picking up best male artist and album of the year at the SA Hip Hop Awards, and cleaning up at the 2013 SA Music Awards as best male artist, best rap album and album of the year, as well as best collaboration award at the Metro FM Music Awards. He was named one of the best dressed men in South Africa by GQ magazine. Life was good.
“That night I was on my way to an event in Pretoria and stopped at the garage to wait for my DJ. Picking Up The Pieces is what happened next.”
While realising he was lucky to have made it out of his car alive, Chana focused on trying to maintain his career under the unrelenting glare of the media and publicity hype that surrounds celebs.
“The mistake I made was I had spent so many years building up my career: I was taking care of Khuli Chana, but I wasn’t taking care of Khulani. I went into a dark space.”
Over the next three years, Chana fought an uphill battle with the police and the courts for justice. “When you go through an ordeal like that, everyone wants to know.
“I became very withdrawn and a loner. I didn’t trust anyone. The music wasn’t the same. It wasn’t fun, I was carrying a burden which I tried hard to channel through my music, but I struggled.”
At one stage he was accused of trying to run the police over. Attempted murder charges were laid against him. They were later withdrawn.
“My daughter, who was only 3 months old when it happened, had a lot to do with my healing. She was my reason for living and I realised I’d become a machine, sometimes doing four or five shows a day. It’s really about the simple things, spending time with people you love. I had to slow down and take one step at a time.”
In June, Chana won his civil claim against the SAPS. The matter had gone to the Johannesburg High Court before a settlement was reached. He is not allowed to disclose the amount, although rumours put it at around R2 million.
Although Chana feels he has been vindicated, he harbours no hard feelings towards the police. “I didn’t make this documentary to trash the police. There are good cops and bad cops out there.
“We created this for anyone who has gone through a similar experience. It could happen to anyone and you do have to pick up the pieces of your life.”
Last year his life started looking up again. He was chosen as SA ambassador for Absolut Vodka, and he has been making a Pan African collaboration album titled One Source which has had him travelling the continent.
“One Source is about celebrating Africa, the birthplace of humanity and creativity.
• Picking Up The Pieces will appear in cinemas shortly.