Famous South African Singer Zahara died at the age of 35

Famous South African music icon, singer, and guitarist Bulelwa Mkutukana popular as Zahara has died at the age of 35. Zahara was in hospital for some days due to a liver complication.

Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa yesterday announced the death of the youngest pop singer Zahara and expressed his condolences to the family of the late singer. Mr.Zizi acknowledged the singer’s impact on the music industry and told the government had been helping her family for some time.

This afternoon, we spent the afternoon with @ZaharaSA’s loved ones. Our heartfelt prayers go the Mkutukana family, Zahara’s friends and the entire music fraternity. The passing of Zahara is a profound loss to the country. #RIPZahara pic.twitter.com/lsxqcaOIfH
— Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture (@zizikodwa) December 12, 2023

Zahara rose to fame in 2011 with her album Loliwe, which was well-received throughout Africa. Mr Kodwa wrote Zahara and her guitar “made an incredible and lasting impact in South African music.”

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

Famous South African Singer Zahara died at the age of 35

The Zahara’s family announced her hospitalization and asked South Africans to keep her in their prayers last month. Her family wrote in a statement on Zahara’s Instagram account: She was a pure light in this world, with an even purer heart. A beacon of hope, a gift, and a blessing to us and countless others worldwide.

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A post shared by Bulelwa Mkutukana (@zaharasa)

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Her manager, Oyama Dyosiba, acknowledged last month that she was in hospital “due to complaints about physical pains.” Dyosiba stated in 2019 that she had suffered from liver damage as a result of her alcohol difficulties.

Doctors informed her sister Nomonde last year that if [Zahara] keeps drinking, she will die. We’re making sure she always has someone watching over her so she doesn’t start drinking again.

Zahara originally known as Bulelwa Mkutukana born in 1987. She was a self-taught guitarist who broke through in 2011 with her debut album, Loliwe. It was a commercial breakthrough that also won Album of the Year at the South African Music Awards.

She sang the title “Madiba Song” in Nelson Mandela’s residence to pay tribute to him before he died in 2013. She later wrote a memorial song with the lyrics “Hero of heroes / There’s none like him.” Zahara also sang this song like the rest of her catalog in a blend of languages Xhosa and English.