Zahara
Zahara playing guitar and singing into a microphone
Zahara performing in Nairobi, 2013
Background information
Birth nameBulelwa Mkutukana
Also known asZahara
Born(1987-11-09)9 November 1987
East London, South Africa
Died11 December 2023(2023-12-11) (aged 36)
Johannesburg, South Africa
GenresAfro-soul
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • singer
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • acoustic guitar
Years active2009–2023
Labels

Bulelwa Mkutukana (9 November 1987 – 11 December 2023), known by her stage name Zahara, was a South African singer, songwriter and guitarist. Her music was classified loosely as "Afro-soul", and she sang in Xhosa, her native language, as well as in English.

After signing a record deal with TS Records, Mkutukana's debut album, Loliwe (2011), went double platinum. Her second album, Phendula (2013), produced three chart-topping singles "Phendula", "Impilo", and "Stay". Zahara's third album, Country Girl (2015), was certified triple platinum. Following her departure from TS Records, she signed a record deal with Warner Music.[1] Her fourth album, Mgodi (2017), was her best-selling album and was certified platinum, while her fifth album, Nqaba Yam (2021), peaked at number 1 on iTunes.[2]

Her accolades included seventeen South African Music Awards, three Metro FM Awards, and one Nigeria Entertainment Award.[3] Zahara was on the 2020 list of the BBC's 100 Women.[4] She appeared as a guest judge on the seventeenth season of Idols South Africa in 2021.[5]

Early life

Born as Bulelwa Mkutukana in the Phumlani Informal Settlement of East London in Eastern Cape, South Africa,[6] Zahara was raised there with her parents Nokhaya and Mlamli Mkutukana, the sixth of seven children.[7] Zahara started singing in her school's choir when she was six years old, becoming the lead singer there,[8] and at the age of nine, she was asked to join the senior choir because of her strong voice.[9] Her stage name means "blooming flower" in Arabic.[8] As a child, she was known by the nickname "Spinach" after her love of vegetables.[10]

Career

Zahara's music is classified loosely as "Afro-soul" and she sang in her native language, Xhosa, as well as in English.[11] Her music has been described as a mixture of styles popularized by Tracy Chapman and India Arie.[12]

Zahara started her career busking on the streets of East London. She was signed to the label TS Records by TK Nciza.[13]

Zahara's debut album Loliwe was released in 2011, with the first issue being sold out within 72 hours.[11] Nineteen days later, the album sold more than 100,000 copies, reaching double platinum status in South Africa.[14] This made her the second musician to reach this figure in such record time after Brenda Fassie, also a Xhosa native.[15] Zahara released her first live DVD The Beginning Live in 2012, featuring X-Factor USA contestant LeRoy Bell, which reached platinum in one day, according to the standards set by the Recording Industry of South Africa.[16]

On 1 May 2012, at the annual South African Music Awards, Zahara won eight awards, including "Best Female Artist" and "Album of the Year".[17]

In 2013, Zahara released her second studio album, Phendula, which won three South African Music Awards for Best Selling Album, Best R&B, Soul and Reggae Album and Best Female Artist of the Year. The same year, Nelson Mandela invited her to his home to perform a private bedside concert. She then composed "Nelson Mandela" in his honour and released it as an EP.[18]

2014–2018: Country Girl, Mgodi

In July 2014, Zahara's younger brother was murdered in East London. According to Zahara, she went through a period of depression after his death, but recovered enough for the 2015 release of Country Girl.[19] In 2015 at the Eastern Cape Music Awards, she won the two awards "Best Female" and "Best Artist 3".[20]

In early 2017, Zahara signed with Warner Music South Africa.[21] On 13 October 2017, she released her fourth studio album Mgodi,[22][23] which went gold after only six hours.[24][25] To further support the album, Zahara embarked on her Africa All Star Music Festival, visiting three venues in United States.[26] The tour began in Toronto, Canada, on 17 August 2019, and concluded on 24 August 2019, in Washington, D.C..[27]

Mgodi won Best Female Act at the 2018 Next Generation Entertainment Awards.[28][17]

2021–2023: Nqaba Yam

Following a four-year hiatus, Zahara announced her fifth studio album on CapeTalk site and later released the album's lead single "Nyamezela" on 7 May 2021.[29] On 30 July 2021, she released a second single "Nqaba Yam".[30] The album was initially set to be released on 9 July 2021, but was delayed due to COVID-19 lockdowns and finally released on 13 August 2021.[31][32][33][34]

In December 2021, she teased her first Amapiano single on Twitter.[35] In November 2023, Zahara's debut amapiano single,"Guqa Ngedolo" was released.[36]

Television

In 2021, she made her television debut as a guest judge for Idols South Africa season 17, alongside Dineo Ranaka.[5]

Death

On 11 December 2023, Zahara died at a hospital in Johannesburg, at age 36.[37][38] She had been admitted mid-November with liver complications which worsened until she became unresponsive.[39] She had suffered with liver disease after problems with alcoholism, according to her manager in 2019.[40]

Discography

Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations received by Zahara
Year Event Prize Nominated work Result Ref.
2014 African Muzik Magazine Awards Best Female Southern Africa Won [41]
20th Annual South African Music Awards Best Selling Album Phendula Won [42]
Female Artist of the Year Won
Best RnB, Soul and Reggae Nominated [43]
Metro FM Music Awards Best African Pop Album Nominated [44]
Best Female Artist Nominated
Song of the Year "Phendula" Nominated
2013 Nigeria Entertainment Awards Southern African Artist of the Year Won [45]
19th Annual South African Music Awards Best Collaboration "Thetha Nami"
(Riot featuring Zahara)		 Won [46]
"Hold On (Bambelela)"
(Zahara featuring LeRoy Bell and the Soweto Gospel Choir)		 Nominated [47]
Best Live DVD The Beginning Live Nominated
MTN SAMA Record of the Year "Umthwalo" Nominated
Best Selling Ring-Back-Tone "Loliwe" Won [46]
2012 Kora Awards Best Female Artist from Southern Africa Won [48]
Channel O Music Video Awards Best Female Video Won [49]
18th Annual South African Music Awards Best Smooth Urban Music Album Loliwe Won [50]
Best Collaboration "Incwad' Encane"
(Zahara featuring Georgie Munetsi)		 Won
Best Selling Album Loliwe Won
Newcomer of the Year "Loliwe" Won
Female Artist of the Year Won
Album of the Year Loliwe Won
Best Selling Full-Track Download of the Year "Loliwe" Won [51]
Remix of the Year "Lengoma"
(DJ Sbu featuring Zahara)		 Won
The Headies African Artist of the Year "Loliwe" Nominated [52]
2011 Metro FM Music Awards [A] Best Produced Album Loliwe Nominated [53][54][55]
Best Female Album Won
Best Newcomer Nominated
Song of the Year "Loliwe" Won
Hit Single of the Year "Lengoma"
(DJ Sbu featuring Zahara)		 Won
Feather Awards Musician
(Zakes Bantwini and Zahara)		 Won [56]
2017 South African Afro Music Awards Herself Best Afro Female Artist Nominated [57]
Country Girl Best Afro Album Nominated
2019 Eastern Cape Music Awards Best EC National Recognised Artist Herself Nominated [58]
2020 Africa Entertainment Awards USA 2020 Best Female Artist Herself Won [59]
Best Female Artist Nominated
Notes
  • A ^ The Metro FM Music Awards were not held in 2012 due to re-positioning. The award ceremony was held in 2013.[60]

References

  1. ↑ "Another One! Zahara Has Left TS Records – OkMzansi". OkMzansi.
  2. ↑ "Zahara's new feel-good album 'Nqaba Yam' already a hit with Mzansi". Independent Online. 13 August 2021.
  3. ↑ "Zahara | Warner Music South Africa". Warner Music South Africa.
  4. ↑ "ZAHARA MAKES BBC 100 LIST | Warner Music South Africa". Warner Music South Africa. 27 November 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Zahara promises to do better as Idols SA guest judge | JustNje". JustNje. 4 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  6. ↑ "'She Poured Her Heart Out On Stage': South Africa's Entertainment Industry Reflects On Singer-Songwriter Zahara's Passing And Lasting Legacy". Forbes Africa. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  7. ↑ "Zahara arrives today". The Herald. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  8. 1 2 Yoon, John (12 December 2023). "Zahara, Acclaimed South African Singer and Guitarist, Dies at 36". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "South Africa's Zahara to perform in Malawi – Malawi Nyasa Times – News from Malawi about Malawi". Nyasa Times. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  10. ↑ "Zahara: strumming to greatness". News24. 16 September 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  11. 1 2 "Zahara Sells Out In 72 Hours". MIO. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  12. ↑ "Zahara is going places real fast". Sowetan. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  13. ↑ Mayne, Jane (7 December 2017). "Zahara Mgodi interview: Fun things about Zahara". Weekend Special.
  14. ↑ "Zahara's CD flies off shelves". Sowetan. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
  15. ↑ "Award-winning musician Zahara dies". The Citizen. 11 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  16. ↑ Zaranyika, Tapiwanashe (12 December 2023). "'A pure light and purer heart' — tributes pour in for singer Zahara". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  17. 1 2 Zeeman, Kyle (21 October 2018). "Greatest hits! Zahara scoops 40th award". Times LIVE.
  18. ↑ "Zahara releases touching tribute to Mandela". News24. 7 April 2013.
  19. ↑ Thakurdin, Karishma (25 May 2015). "Zahara again denies 'alcoholism' and 'broke' reports". News24.
  20. ↑ "Eastern Cape Music Awards Winners – OkMzansi". OkMzansi.
  21. ↑ Modisane, Kgosi (5 July 2017). "Zahara lands new Warner Music deal – The Citizen". The Citizen.
  22. ↑ "Zahara gets ready to release her 4th album | Channel". News24. South Africa. 6 July 2017.
  23. ↑ "Zahara on releasing new album: My plan is to bring hope to every girl | Channel". Channel. South Africa. 29 August 2017.
  24. ↑ Herimbi, Helen (1 November 2017). "Zahara – 'Mgodi' is all about my journey". Independent Online.
  25. ↑ "South African Singer Zahara's Fourth Album Goes Gold within Hours of Release – OkayAfrica". OkayAfrica. 17 October 2017.
  26. ↑ Lesemane, Lineo. "ZAHARA'S READY FOR HER AMERICAN TOUR!". Daily SUN. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  27. ↑ "Zahara To Go On North American Tour All Throughout August". Zkhiphani. 15 August 2018.
  28. ↑ Ngwadla, Nkosazana (16 October 2018). "Zahara bags 40th music award | Drum". News24. South Africa.
  29. ↑ Shumba, Ano (7 May 2021). "SA: Zahara releases Nyamezela single ahead of fifth album | Music In Africa". Music In Africa.
  30. ↑ Shumba, Ano (30 July 2021). "SA: Listen to Zahara's new single Nqaba Yam | Music In Africa". Music In Africa.
  31. ↑ "Zahara puts troll in its place after questioning her popularity". Independent Online. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  32. ↑ Wagiet, Rafiq (26 June 2021). "South African musician Zahara set to release her fifth studio album". Cape Talk.
  33. ↑ Mike, Steven (13 August 2021). "Zahara Nqaba Yam Album". iminathi.
  34. ↑ "Zahara releases new album, Nqaba Yam | JustNje". JustNje. 13 August 2021.
  35. ↑ "Zahara Teases Her First Amapiano Single, Fans React". ZAtunes. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  36. ↑ Seemela, Masego (2 November 2023). "Zahara makes her debut as new amapiano queen". Sowetan Live. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  37. ↑ "Zahara: South African music icon dies aged 36". 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  38. ↑ Wycliffe Muia (12 December 2023). "Zahara: South African music icon Zahara dies aged 36". bbc.com. BBC News. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  39. ↑ Joel Ontong (12 December 2023). "'Incredible and lasting impact': Tributes pour in after 'true music icon' Zahara dies". Independent Online. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  40. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (12 December 2023). "Zahara, platinum-selling South African singer-songwriter, dies aged 35". The Guardian.
  41. ↑ "Sarkodie, Fuse ODG, DJ Black, others win at AFRIMMA Awards". Ghana Web. 27 July 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  42. ↑ "Mafikizolo Dominates SAMA 20 With Eight Awards". Rolling Stone, South Africa. 29 April 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
  43. ↑ "A full list of all the 2014 SAMA nominees". Channel24. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  44. ↑ Boshomane, Lebogang (17 January 2014). "13th Metro FM Music Awards nominees announced". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 27 January 2014.
  45. ↑ "Olamide emerges biggest winner at NEA 2013 [Full Winners List]". The Net Nigeria. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  46. 1 2 "WINNERS". SAMA. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  47. ↑ "THE 19TH ANNUAL MTN SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES". SAMA. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  48. ↑ "Full List: All The Winners From the KORA Awards". Ghafla. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  49. ↑ "Full list of winners at the 2012 Channel O Music Video Awards". ModernGhana. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  50. ↑ "THE 18TH ANNUAL MTN SOUTH AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS AND THE WINNERS ARE..." SAMA. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  51. ↑ "Full List Of Winners: 2012 MTN SA Music Awards". justcurious. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  52. ↑ "THE HEADIES (HIP HOP WORLD AWARDS 2012) WINNERS LIST". Hip Hop World Magazine. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  53. ↑ "2011 Metro FM Music Awards – all the winners". TVSA. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  54. ↑ "AKA Dominates Metro FM Awards". MIO. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  55. ↑ Koyana, Xolani (1 May 2012). "Newcomer Zahara blows away opposition at SAMA awards". Cape Times. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  56. ↑ "Feather Awards 2011". YWorld. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  57. ↑ Shumba, Ano (24 November 2020). "SA: Vusi Nova wins two SAAFMAs | Music In Africa". Music In Africa.
  58. ↑ Seroto, Butchie (20 September 2019). "SA Eastern Cape Music Awards: All the nominees". Music In Africa.
  59. ↑ Ilado, Lucy (22 December 2020). "Africa Entertainment Awards USA 2020: All the winners". Music In Africa.
  60. ↑ "SABC Announces Plans For 12th MMA". Metrofm. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
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