Zahara: Iconic singer who captured SA and the world
BULELWA Mkutukana, in 2010 was just another artist trying to make ends meet by performing with her guitar in the busy streets of East London for herself and family back in Phumlani Village, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.
Her luck would soon change when her legendary voice was discovered by TS Records co-owner TK Nciza during a gig in East London.
She went from just an ordinary singer in a small town to one of the country’s biggest artists, thanks to her debut album, Loliwe in 2011.
During this period, her stage name went from Spinach to Zahara, meaning “budding flower” in Arabic and a budding flower she was.
e 12-track album consisted of hit after hit. After all, she worked with the late legendary Robbie Malinga and Mojalefa Mjakes ebe.
She joined TS Records, which was co-owned by DJ Sbu and music executive-turned-politician TK Nciza’s star, selling out within 72 hours with close to 400 000 copies of the album sold.
Within that space of time, the singer-songwriter became a national star, with many knowing the lyrics to her songs, thanks to the massive airplay she had — TV and radio. It was all about the girl with the big afro, guitar and commanding voice.
Zahara found fame doing what she loved — singing, something she was born to do, a gift she had been bestowed. She even taught herself how to play the guitar.
Fame for the multi-platinum selling artist came with its share of accolades, which she certainly collected — 17 South African Music Awards, three Metro FM Awards, and one Nigeria Entertainment Award and featured on the 2020 list of the BBC’S 100 Women.
She released five studio albums with each achieving nationwide success; her second album Phendula in 2013 topped the charts and proving her star power, her fifth Nqaba Yam went to claim number one on itunes.
In November, that’s just before her 36th birthday, she shared in an Instagram post how she is intentional with her music with each song having a specific meaning and how they are written from her journal entries, in hopes her fans could find healing through her songs and know that they are not alone.
As the tributes have been pouring in following the announcement of her death, on Monday, many have been acknowledging how her music healed them.
In 2019, Zahara revealed she had not been receiving royalties from her former record label TS Records and also later opened up about her financial difficulties.
DJ Sbu has denied the label owning her any money and has claimed it was actually the other way round.
Last month, her family confirmed she had been admitted to hospital and called on South Africans to keep the musician in their prayers.
Her fans and the music industry rallied around the singer, supporting her and praying for her recovery, until her untimely passing on December 11.
Bulelwa Mkutukana, Spinach, Zahara for many, will be remembered as the girl next door who made it and achieved her dreams and inspired others.
To her family she will be remembered as a wife, sister, aunt and a daughter. — IOL Entertainment.