South Africa’s music industry has come under increased scrutiny as the country mourns the passing of multi-award winning vocalist Zahara, real name Bulelwa Mkutukwana who succumbed to illness on Monday, merely a month after turning 36.
Allegations that Zahara was being shortchanged for her talent by TS Records, the label that discovered her, started doing the rounds quite early in her remarkable career that saw her not just win prestigious awards but also achieve the rare privilege of performing for South Africa’s first democratically elected President Nelson Mandela in 2013. TS Records, co-founded by entertainer as well as businessman Sibusiso Leope otherwise known as Dj Sbu and now ANC Gauteng Provincial Secretary TK Nciza is on record denying shortchanging the singer insisting she received every penny meant for her but she has always been adamant that she was being exploited and successfully tried to challenge the stable.
Nciza and Leope attended her memorial and this week the latter said the singer’s family would be entitled to whatever that was due to her. Fellow musician Siphokazi said Zahara had given up the battle to demand better remuneration for her music emphasizing that she was one of many of those who passed trying to fight for a better deal in an industry described by many as ‘cut throat’ and ‘ untransformed’.
“There are many stories about those who paved the way for us, left us this industry who did not even know how to fight for themselves, now it’s about them, we don’t know if they won their cases or not so I just wish justice for her could be served,” said Siphokazi on the sidelines of the memorial service.
The afro-pop singer said after a long battle, Zahara no longer had strength to fight and had all but given up.
“I watched her interview one day and she said she had given everything to God to fight for her so I think I am also there because there are battles that do not belong to us, not only in the music industry but in life in general you can’t fight all battles. As a believer as well I handle my troubles to God and I believe even in her case God will come through for her even though she has passed,” she said.
Veteran singer Mercy Phakela said the industry was particularly brutal towards women and that the experiences of the current generation of artists are no different from those of her times.
“Sadly she left us too early, we still expected some more coming from her. Even the mysteries and frustrations that she and her generation go through are the same frustrations that we’ve gone through as women in the music industry, you know, there hasn’t been any transformation in such a way that it affects the mood,” said Phakela as she walked into the hall.