Released through Sony BMG late last month, the album carries 14 uplifting songs, including ‘Oh! Bless Our God’, ‘Eh Yaweh’, ‘A Nation Mourns’, ‘Through It All’, ‘He Touched Me’, ‘Undzifele’ and ‘Umelusi’.

Dube is one of the few South African gospel musos whose music is selling in oversees countries such as the US, Sweden, Netherlands, Paris, Australia and Japan.

The veteran singer released his first album in 1986, titled Holy Spirit, and never looked back.

In 1999 he produced ‘I Feel Like Going On’, released through Harmony Records in New York. The album sold more than 50000 copies in South Africa. At the 2009 Crown Gospel Music Awards Dube received the Best Male Artist and Lifetime Achievement accolades.

He also heads the High Praise Centre in Boksburg, which is teaming up with various local churches to host an imbizo in Boksburg tomorrow and on Saturday in Extension 9, Vosloorus.

For more information about Benjamin Dube visit www.benjamindube.net

The album features the late legendary Stimela lead singer Nana Coyote, who helps Kunene deliver two remarkable songs, “Ungcwele” and “Impi ngekaJehova”.

His best effort on the album, “Bamb’Isandla sam” is generally receiving favourable feedback from radio stations across the country. Another noteworthy track is “Udumo”, which talks about the birth of Jesus Christ.

Talking about his singing talent, Kunene says he started singing at the age of seven and “explored different genres of music ranging from Afro jazz, pop, R&B to gospel.” At the age of 19 the talented singer teamed up with his friends to establish a four-piece Jazz band called Afro Touch, which released a number of hits before splitting.

In addition to recording music, Kunene is also a script writer, film director, and model. He has featured in local television programs like Generations, Scandal, and City Ses’la. He has also written and directed musical scripts of To Be A Star and Tears In My Navy Blues Eyes.

The multi-talented singer is currently promoting his gospel offering which is also available in music shops throughout the country.

Mbuyane told a Sunday paper that Sharon’s switch to gospel comes naturally because she was raised in a religious family and sang gospel in her youth before joining Joyous Celebration – one of the most successful gospel groups in the country. He added that Sharon Dee, real name Sharon Dlamini, sees gospel as more suitable to her voice and style.

Sharon Dee, who is the former wife of Zimbabwean soccer star Peter Ndlovu, gained prominence in the late 90s with her single “Local is lekker”. The singer says she hopes to inspire people with her gospel album which will be released towards the end of September 2010.

Before releasing the album, Sharon Dee will share the stage with gospel heavyweights such as, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Tshepiso Motaung, Sfiso Ncwane, Dumi Mkokstad and Indumiso Gospel Group.

These gospel artists will perform at the Mapulaneng College of Education Multipurpose Centre in Bushbuckridge on September 4.

Formed in the early 90s by Solomon Nkosana Kodi, the group is one of the most prolific gospel outfits in the country.

Kodi, who was helped by Solly Moholo to kick-start his career, says the new album offers a youth-oriented message, while also trying to give hope to the jobless and advising the needy to seek God’s help.

The group’s music has evolved over the years. Kodi says they have now moved away from the slower mkhukhu style and introduced faster tempos in their recordings, adapting ZCC hymns as well as choruses to their repertoire.

Apart from Nkosana and Stocks and Stocks, Nkosana has also has a string of solo albums under his belt such as, ‘Ke Nna Yo’, followed by ‘Sebakanya Se’, which reached platinum status and ‘Jehova Ke Tla Mo Leboga Ka eng?’. In November last year, he released ‘Ke Rapela Modimo wa Metlholo’, which is getting a lot of positive feedback.

The talented gospel star has also worked with a host of popular ZCC gospel artists, notably Kenny of the ‘Kenny Le Masogana A Kgotso’ fame, the late Lucas ‘Mojeremane’ Xale and Oleseng Shuping.

For more information about the group, check out their Facebook fan page.

Speaking at the launch of the 10-track album, Dube said he had visited Swaziland not only to promote his music but to also win souls for the Kingdom of God.

“I really wanted to start here before venturing elsewhere. I was the first person to bring Joyous Celebration to Swaziland after their fifth and sixth projects. I have good memories of that time and I want to revive that again and bring people closer to God.”

The former Joyous Celebration member also told fans that he is planning to launch several charity projects that will benefit impoverished families in the country. “The idea here would be to use proceeds from my shows to benefit underprivileged people in this country,” he said.

Speaking about the message on his new album, Dube said “The album reminds listeners of their purporse, who they are, why they are here and where they are going”.

The album features local gospel artists, Jabu Nkabinde and Sifiso Fakude. Some of the promising tracks on the offering include ‘Khaya Lam’, ‘Masibulele KuYesu’ and ‘Into my Heart’.

A prolific musician, Dube has worked with some of the most celebrated gospel musicians in South Africa, including Rebecca Malope, Vuyo Mokoena, Mthunzi Namba and Benjamin Dube.

Moshe says he recorded his latest song, “Umoya Wami”, with the legendary singer in mind. “Mokoena was a gospel king and I looked up to him. So in the song I am trying to put myself in his shoes, I’m trying to imagine what he was saying to himself when he was in pain in hospital.,” says Moshe.

The song, Umoya Wami features on Moshe’s latest album and doubles as an album title. Influenced by the ZCC church, Moshe has released three albums, all of which have served to cement his popularity in the local gospel music industry.

His album also carries a host of entertaining gospel songs, including “Mdali Wami”, “Izono Zami”, “Thusa Bophelo baka” and “Askies I’m Sorry”.

Moshe has worked with some of the most successful gospel musicians in South Africa including Solly Moholo, Winnie Mashaba and Sinky Mathe. He is also the founding member of one of the most promising Gospel groups in the country, Exodus.

Author: Eddie Hatitye

Soweto Gospel Choir’s fifth album, Grace, sticks to the group’s signature sound. The 19-track disk is a spiritual offering that is consciously fashioned to please many audiences. It’s very entertaining, and stands a chance to expand the choir’s musical reach into many cultures of the world.

Released on Shanachie Records, the album is dedicated to one of the choir’s longtime guitarists Joshua Mcineka, who passed away early last year. It’s also their last album under the leadership of co-founder and musical director David Mulovhedzi, who succumbed to cancer in December last year.

Despite the setbacks, the thirty-plus-member choral group recorded a joyful album filled with refreshing messages. They go outside the church to reach out to heathens with secular songs like “Eli”, and return to church with infectious sacred songs like “Prayer for South Africa” and “Ngahlulele” .

The album is mainly acapella and this gives the choir an opportunity to showcase its legendary vocal talent. One of the vocalists Bongani Khumalo, delivers an outstanding vocal performance on the track “Muphulusi”, which incorporates some amazing traditional elements. Sipokazi Nxumalo’s gentle delivery of “Prayer for South Africa” is another standout performance on the album.

The choir also digs into the secular world with a remake of Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. It’s a great effort, they give the song deeper meaning .Other songs to look out for, include “O Nkosi Yam” and “Ngahlulele.”

This is a great album, a must-have for anyone who appreciates good music.

Cover/Art: 3.5/5 | Sound/Technical: 4.5/5 | “I like it factor”: 9/10

Author: Eddie Hatitye

Titled ‘Joyous Celebration 14: Life Changing Worship, Live In Bloemfontein’ (Sony SA) and supported by Old Mutual, the CD consists of two discs with a total of 24 tracks, while the accompanying DVD features all of these tracks rendered in Joyous Celebration’s signature scintillating live performance style.

The launch of the renowned Gospel group’s latest release comes just a week after Joyous Celebration scored yet another South African Music Award nod – this time in the categories: Best Duo/Group, Best African Contemporary Gospel & Best Traditional/African Adult Contemporary DVD for the 2009 release ‘Joyous Celebration 13: Live at the Mosaiek Theatre, Johannesburg’.

All bets are on the multi-million selling ensemble taking home the SAMA mid-April 2010 – something they have done many times over, including in 2009 when ‘Joyous Celebration 12’ was named Best African Contemporary Gospel Album at the May event held in Sun City.

As the anticipation around the release of Joyous Celebration 14: Live In Bloemfontein reveals, Joyous Celebration has managed to consistently deliver uplifting, inspiring and simply joyous Gospel music since its formation in 1996.

Much of this has to do with the group’s three founders – Lindelani Mkhize, Jabu Hlongwane and Pastor Mthunzi Namba, a trio of producers, songwriters and artists who are widely recognised as the most gifted individuals working in contemporary Gospel music across the whole sub-continent.

Says Mkhize, “What many people don’t know is that 14 years after we formed this group, the three of us still get an enormous satisfaction from creating each album and live show and discovering the new talent for this amazing choir.”

This time around, ‘Joyous Celebration: Live In Bloemfontein’ was, as its title suggests, recorded in the Free State. “It was in December 2009 that we undertook the recording and the response from the fans in the audience really added something special to this recording,” says Hlongwane.

The reasonably-priced, double CD is produced by Lindelani Mkhize and Nqubeko Mbatha, who was discovered, groomed and trained by Joyous Celebration. The CD also boasts songwriting from a star-cast, which includes some of Joyous Celebration’s founders.

Disc one features 11 Praise and Worship songs including “Give You All the Glory”, “Walk With Me”, “In the Presence of the Lord”, “We Win”, “I’m Yours” and “Ngimi Lapha”. Disc two, meanwhile, has all the ingredients to become a firm favourite for those who love African traditional Gospel music in its most pure form. Among the tracks on the album are “Asikho Isikhali”, “Ngijulise”, “Thula Wazi”, “Noya na”, “Abakholwa kuJesu” and “Big God” which features lyrics and vocals by Uche Agu.

Nigerian Gospel singer, Agu performed the song “My God Is Good” on the ‘Joyous Celebration 13’ album and it rapidly became one of the most popular songs on that album, in the process underscoring Joyous Celebration’s pan-African appeal.

As a companion to the double CD, the ‘Joyous Celebration 14: Live In Bloemfontein’ DVD is everything fans have come to expect from this incredible act: magnificent High Definition quality, wonderful choreography and costuming and beautiful music sung by some of southern Africa’s most gifted.

April to August 2010 sees Joyous Celebration embark on a five city, eight-date national tour, sponsored by Old Mutual. The group will also be undertaking auditions during this period and beyond, cementing its standing as a platform for undiscovered Gospel singers to reach a broader audience and, quite frequently, launch their careers.

Author: Eddie Hatitye

uThando is the first secular album by iconic South African gospel singer, Deborah Fraser. The 10-track album was produced by Sello “Chicco” Twala, Sipho Sithole, Master Wakes and Abe Sibiya – four music industry stalwarts with over 60 years of combined experience in the business.

Unlike her previous albums, uThando meaning love, is an Afro-pop offering based on secular themes.

Released in 2009, the album was recorded in the aftermath of tragic events in Fraser’s life. She had been dealing with the demise of her marriage as well as the death of her parents and brother. The Durban-native says she had to “ease the pain by straying away from emotional gospel lyrics”.

The album fires-off with the turbo-charged lead single “Kusi kusi”, which was composed and produced by Chicco. With little help from the trendy vocoder effect, the songstress comfortably swings with the beat, talking about hope and optimism. Fraser marries her soothing voice with Sipho Sithole’s jazzy beat on the next song, “uThando”, which talks about love and happiness.

The singer then dedicates “You let me fly”, which is one of her best songs on the album, to her late father. Siya’s emotional R&B instrumental helps Fraser lament the death of her father in a way certain to attract sympathetic responses from her fans .

Another noteworthy track is “Kwerekwere (Nobody deserves to be called)”. The afro pop-flavored track sees Fraser calling on all South Africans to “love and stop discriminating foreigners”.

The CD sleeve reads: “To all my Gospel supporters, I still love you and won’t let you down. I will release next year and thank you so much for your continued support”. So, if you are a Christian and enjoys her gospel music, there is no need to worry, Deborah Fraser is still in good hands.

Cover/Art: 4/5 | Sound/Technical: 4/5 | “I like it factor”: 6.5/10

“It has been said before but it was not said by me. It is not just about singing, but it is also about preaching, leading and living by example” Those who have had the pleasure of seeing this big man float when he sings will confirm that he is an anointed artist.

Siyabulela Maawu will be releasing his 5th album and his first with Bula Music in 2009. The album is titled Iyafuna intliziyo and filled with melodic sounds and sounds that will really make dance for the Lord. The album is produced by one of Bula’s female artists Zodwa Twecu, she also co-produced her album titled My Life. Two young talented people combined their skills, passion for music and love for the Lord and came up with an extremely beautiful album. The diversity in the choice of songs shows that Siya is not in the gospel music scene by mistake.

The song “We adore You” carries so much soul that one cannot help feeling blood rushing through the veins, it makes you want to worship and praise the Lord continuously. “Bula mahlo arona”, is a Sotho song requesting the Lord to open our eyes to see things with the eyes of the spirit, so that we can be able to see the secret of the heavens. The message behind the song “Wosabela” is simple, when we call upon His name, He will always answer because He promised that He will never leave you nor forsake you no matter what kind of situation you are in, His name is Jesus.

The overall message of this album is that there is no other name as beautiful as the name of Jesus. Life with Jesus is complete and makes all things possible when you believe, even the angels praise and honour him always.

Siya is praising and worshiping the Lord the best way he knows how. Other soul stirring songs to look forward to are “Nje ngebhadu”, “Abakholwa Kuye”, “Pula tsa lehlohonolo” and “Victory”.

Rejoice in the Lord with Siya!

For more info please contact: 011 482 3667