An intimate setting surrounded by family and friends listening to soulful sounds of Zolani Mahola live from her home in New Brighton.
The experience set the scene for an unforgettable Wednesday evening as the songstress belted out some of her best ballads in the living room of her childhood home as part of a soon-to-be-released documentary about her life, spirituality and music.
Zolani opened her performance, which was also live-streamed on TikTok, with a song about her mother’s passing, Nomvula, that tells her tale of being brought up by a single father.
A commemorative alter was set up in living room in memory of her late father, Nceba “Doc” Mahola.
“My father was a person who enjoyed having people come over at our house, this made him very happy,” Zolani said ahead of the performance.
“We would spend time conversing, eating and singing together, that’s the kind of environment I grew up in.
“We are here in his honour.
“This documentary we are shooting is based on my life journey and the relationship I have with the ocean and nature in general.
“I thought to return home where my story begins.”
Zolani said she never thought when she left home for the University of Cape Town in 2000 she would be leaving to travel the world as the former front woman of successful band Freshly Ground.
Uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and neighbours were all invited to be part of the special event, to give thanks to the community she comes from and the family she grew up in.
They sang along to some of the songs as she guided her small audience to form part of the performance.
Speaking after the event, Zolani’s uncle, Monde Mahola, said after the passing of his elder brother, he automatically assumed the role of being Zolani’s father as was customary in the Xhosa culture.
“Seeing her life unfold to what it is today, in spite of all the challenges she’s faced, I’m happy to say my brother bhut’ Doc brought up a resilient and talented woman.
“She was brought up by a single father as her mother died when she was six years old.
“He brought up all his children the same way we were brought up, to cook, clean and do the laundry.”
Mahola said Zolani loved books as a young schoolgirl and was always home studying or going to church with her father.
“One day she returned home while she was still in university, she came to me and asked for advice about whether to stay in university or pursue a career in music.
“I encouraged her to finish her studies as she has always been brilliant but she went on to do her own thing and explored this music thing which she made a success of.”
Her mother’s close friend, Thobeka Gaxamba, said she was proud to see Zolani succeed.
“I know her from when she was a little girl, she was always with her mother, my friend.
“I went to church with her parents back when they still lived in Kwazakhele.
“The talent she has runs in the family, especially her dad’s side.
“They are all creatives who excel in spoken word such as poetry and music.”
A neighbour and friend of her father, Julia Galo, said her success brought joy to his heart.
“That feeling intensifies in Zolani’s case because I know her from a very young age through her parents.
“She’s always been disciplined and respectful, her whole family loved music especially her father who brought her up to be the formidable woman she is.
“She has represented her family, our community and the whole of Gqeberha on stages across the world and we couldn’t be more proud.”
The Herald
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