The late Afro-Pop sensation Bulelwa Mkutukana, popularly known as Zahara, has been described as someone who never forgot her roots.
This emerged during the funeral service of the Lolilwe hitmaker at Phumlani township in East London, Eastern Cape.
The 36-year-old Zahara passed away last week at a Johannesburg hospital, following liver complications.
Friends and mourners said despite been famous, she didn’t want to be treated like a celebrity whenever she visited East London.
She was a down to earth, humble, and approachable person. She didn’t want to be treated like a star.
We would see her on TV with big people, like the late Nelson Mandela, politicians, and celebrities, but whenever she was here, she was just Bulelwa,” said one of Zahara’s friends.
Friend and fellow musician Vusi Nova, said he’s still in disbelief that Zahara is no more, and that he will forever cherish the time they spent together.
“She was special, extraordinary, protected her friends and those that she loved.
“We were always together and shared a lot of things. She took all my secrets to the grave, and I’ll do the same.
“We were always together and for me to be here and talk about Bulelwa, it’s just crazy,” said an emotional Nova.
Meanwhile, TS Records co-owner TK Nciza, said he was invited by a friend to go and see the then unknown Zahara in 2009, and was instantly convinced.
Zahara has in the past accused the company of swindling her royalties, but the company has denied the allegations.
“It took me 30 seconds to see such a wonderful talent.
“Immediately I had vision, I saw something extra-ordinary, I saw her performing in big stages.
“I immediately called my ex-wife and told her we must come back to the Eastern Cape, I just saw a young talented star,” said Nciza.
He said Zahara stayed with his family for two years, before recording her first album, which sold 100 000 copies within the first two-weeks and won three Metro FM awards and eight South African Music Awards.
Nciza described her as a special musician, a healer and accredited her for rescuing the music industry.
Delivering a eulogy at the funeral, said investigations are underway to probe the exploitation of artists by record companies.
“I met with SAMRO after I was inundated with complaints from artists about their royalties.
“We agreed that perhaps the exploitation of artists by record companies must be investigated.
One record label has already been found to exploit artists, and the investigations will be widened and expanded, details and reports will be made public to expose the record companies,” explained the minister.
He called on the Eastern Cape government to establish a record company, that will enable local artists not to go to Johannesburg and be exploited.
