Entertainment

Zahara, the late ‘Loliwe’ hitmaker. What happened?

Zahara and her guitar made an incredible and lasting impact in South African music.

Published

8 months ago

December 12, 2023

Zahara, whose real name was Bulelwa Mkutukana, died Monday 11th, December 2023, her family said in a statement posted on her official page on X, formerly Twitter. It gave no cause of death. The family said last month that Zahara had been admitted to a hospital with an undisclosed issue and had asked for privacy.

Last month, her manager, Oyama Dyosiba, confirmed she had been hospitalized “following complaints about physical pains”. She had suffered liver disease after problems with alcoholism, confirmed by Dyosiba in 2019.

I was saddened by this news as Zahara was one of my first introductions to South African music, my favorite song being DJ Sbu feat. Zahara – Lengoma. Netizens around the world have been confused by her untimely death and sad as they say that Zahara healed souls with her music.

Claims have been circulating the internet about her alcoholism and the cause of her dipping into bad health. This was about her contract with her record label as it was too much for her and this made her dip into alcohol. Her sister Nomonde said that year doctors had told her, “If [Zahara] continues drinking, she is going to die … We are making sure that there is always someone around her to monitor her so that she doesn’t start drinking again”.

Also in 2021, in an interview, DJ Sbu claimed Zahara had been paid for her Loliwe album. However, speaking to TshisaLIVE, Zahara said that she has never received any funds for her work with the Loliwe album. “It’s all lies,” she said, fuming.

Why did Zahara write Loliwe?

Zahara said the song is primarily about the train that transported her fathers and forefathers from Johannesburg to East London during the Apartheid era. Furthermore, she said many people had hope that the train would bring their loved ones back.

Zahara won 17 South African music awards, was also recognized in Nigeria and was included on a list of the 100 most influential women in the world in 2020 by the BBC. She released four more albums — one of them triple platinum and one platinum.

RIP to the legend that introduced South African music to the world, truly she did cure souls with her music.

Below are some of the messages that people had to say about Zahara.

I am very saddened by the passing of @ZaharaSA. My deepest condolences to the Mkutukana family and the South African music industry. Government has been with the family for some time now. Zahara and her guitar made an incredible and lasting impact in South African music. pic.twitter.com/1a402aQfLs
— Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture (@zizikodwa) December 11, 2023

You healed so many souls🙏🏿❤️ pic.twitter.com/O9GiFJY5wr
— Black Coffee (@RealBlackCoffee) December 11, 2023

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July 26, 2024

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According to ELLE US, volunteers will receive makeup kits so they can create a “designated look” using Fenty Beauty products.

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Kenya Sevens: Time & Where to Watch as Shujaa Begin Olympics Campaign in Paris

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2 days ago

July 25, 2024

Muinde Brian

The 2024 Paris Olympics will begin competitions on Wednesday, July 24, ahead of the Opening Ceremony on July 26.

Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony will take place on July 26 and It will be the first Olympic Opening Ceremony held outside a stadium, with about 10,500 athletes parading through Paris on boats along the Seine.

Shujaa, Kenya’s national rugby sevens team, will be the first Kenyan team in action at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Here’s what you need to know and how you can catch them in action at the Stade de France.

Schedule and Matches

– Wednesday, July 24

– Argentina vs Kenya (5 pm Kenyan time)

– The Argentines, who topped last season’s World Sevens Series standings, will provide a significant challenge for Kenya, who played in the second-tier Challenger Series in 2024. Historically, Argentina has had the upper hand, but Shujaa must win to avoid early elimination.

– Australia vs Samoa (8 pm Kenyan time)

– Australia finished fourth in the World Series, making this another tough match. A positive result here could boost their confidence for the final group game.

What Else to Know

The rugby sevens ranking matches and finals will take place on July 27. Per International Olympic Committee rules, no medals are awarded and no athletes are eliminated before the opening ceremony.