This year, the awards feature 28 categories including the prestigious Classic of all Times, Best Gospel Song and Best Gospel Artist accolades.

Gospel musicians from all walks of life submitted their music for consideration between August and October, and for the first time this year, church choirs and worship groups have a chance to compete in a new category
called Best Church Choir.

The awards are organised yearly by World Gospel Powerhouse, a company established to assist performers and promote local gospel music. Launched in 2008, the popular awards have grown to become South Africa’s premier gospel music awards. Last year, they became the first South African music awards to be attended by a president after Jacob Zuma who made a surprise appearance at the ICC Arena in Durban.

This year, the awards will be broadcast live from Durban’s iNkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) on Sunday, November 21 on SABC2.

Tickets are available at Computicket for R400. The event sold out last year so get you tickets early.

The 21-year-old B Comm student made it to the final list of 46 contestants, who will battle it out in the next phase of the popular singing competition.

After impressing judges at the Pretoria auditions, the songbird sat down with the Popstars production team for a brief interview. In the interview, Noluthando talks about her career and what she is hoping to bring to the local music industry.

Q: Where do you live?
A: Sandton

Q: Does Rebecca know about you entering Popstars?
A: I didn’t tell my mom about Popstars until I was shortlisted for workshop. I think I wanted to surprise her and it definitely worked.

Q: What was her reaction?
A: She was so excited and surprised because she didn’t know that I wanted to pursue singing right now. I used to sing a lot when I was in high school but decided to put my business goals when I matriculated.

Q: When did you singing?
A: I started singing when I was in primary school. I was 10 years old when I joined the school choir and then I entered a school singing competition, which I won. That’s when I realised that I had a singing voice.

Q: What kind of music are you keen on?
A: I love gospel music but any music that is soulful really touches me.

Q: Your mother is a gospel Queen. Why did it take you so long to expose yourself?
A: I want to build a name for myself. I am inspired by the fact that she worked very hard to get where she is and she has taught me to work for my own things. That is why I want to create my own name and gain some respect for myself. You always value something you work hard for. I value singing and understand that some of the best musicians are people who have life experiences to share, so I need to build my own career, follow my own path and tell my story.

Q: Are you following your mother’s footsteps?
A: It’s about creating my own footsteps. I am carrying the Malope name and representing it but I am my own person and would like to bring that side of the Malope name to the table. I will never be good enough if I follow in her footsteps; I can only be the best if I am myself. I will work very hard to uphold the Malope name though.

Q: What else are you busy with at the moment?
A: I run a business called Face of Fortune, we do events, image management, charity gigs and youth development initiatives. We started in Alexandra, trying to create opportunities for young people.

Q: Why do you think you have what it takes to be a Popstar?
A: The talent is very strong, everybody is great but we are all different. My business background puts me in a good position. I have knowledge of brand management, promotions and image management, so I think this puts me in an interesting position. For now I will give the best I have.

Noluthando’s mother won the Shell Road to Fame talent search in 1987. See if the daughter will follow her mother’s footsteps. Watch Popstars every Saturday at 6:05pm on e.tv.

Twala said the movie is in three sections; Rebecca the teenager, a successful Rebecca in her 30s and finally her true self towards the end of the film. He said the movie traces Malope’s journey from her hometown, Nelspruit to Jo’burg, where she is now based.

Once a farm labourer living with an abusive father, Malope followed her music dream to become one of the most celebrated musicians in Africa. Her career started in 1986, when she left her home township of Lekazi and hiked 400 km to Evaton, and finally reached Johannesburg. This brave step launched a personal journey of achievement that now touches millions of people. According to Twala, this will motivate impoverished young girls in South Africa.

“It will show them that if they want something badly they must work hard to make it happen. Rebecca’s is a rags-to-riches story,” he said in an interview with daily newspaper, Sowetan.

Twala, who also produced hits for Brenda Fassie, said filming will take place in Nelspruit, Pretoria, Evaton and Johannesburg.

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.

It is indeed great to see people from all the walks of life coming together to honor one of the artists that contributed to lifting Gospel music higher and higher.

It is no secret that Shuping is one artist that has won many hearts with his soul touching Gospel compositions. It was his God given singing talent that made him the talk of the town and amongst other things, a great Gospel artist.
On the 24th of Sept, those behind the awards organized a special prayer service which took place at the artist’s home in Pretoria, Attridgeville. Supporting one of their own, the service was attended by about twenty five gospel artists, including Solly Mahlangu, Zodwa, Tebs Davids, Reverend Nyembe and Rebecca Malope.
There is no doubt that such a special visit has put a smile on Shuping’s face. It is great to see artists supporting each other through thick and thin. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” – Romans 8:38-39.

Witten by: Eddie Hatitye

Hundreds of gospel music lovers thronged Soweto’s Dobonsville stadium on Sunday (4 October), to witness live, the cream of the local gospel scene over nine hours. It was a very well organised event that undoubtedly left many fans gasping for more. The sound was phenomenal and the performers were more than prepared to rock the 2000 plus crowed.

Emceed by young TV presenter, Twasa (popular for SABC’s Jam Alley show) the fest kicked off at 9 am, with fascinating performances from up-and-coming names who readied the crowd for prominent names such as Rebecca Malope, Deborah Fraser,Sechaba, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Sipho Makhabane, Winnie Mashaba and Keke. Things really started heating up at around 11 am, upon the introduction of household names, in particular Sechaba, who dazzled the audience with hits from his commercially successful sophomore album “Modimo O Teng”.

From there on, the event got even better and better, complemented by chilly temperatures which also helped to stimulate massive dances in the audience.

Sechaba left the stage for husband and wife, Bongi & Collin, who took the event to another level with only five songs. Thereafter the iconic Deborah Fraser rocked in and it was very easy for her to woo the crowed with a few chart-topping hits that have made her one of the most successful female musician in the country.

The highlight of the afternoon came from Winnie Mashaba, who delivered arguably the best performance of the day. An up-tempo beat always works at such events and she was very conscious of that. Her energy really drove the crowed mad and she was sure to also showcase her vocal prowess during the 60-minutes-long performance.

Queen of gospel Rebecca Malope, Hlengiwe Mhlaba and Sipho ‘Big Fish’ Makhame concluded the festival on a very positive note before ending at 6pm.

After this experience, I’m really looking forward to attending next year’s addition.

Written by: Eddie Hatitye

Album Title: My Hero

Genre: Gospel

Year of Release: 2009

‘My Hero’ is the 30^th studio album from multi-award-winning gospel songstress, Rebecca Malope. It comes as a double album, featuring 20 tracks in both vernacular (Zulu) and English. The album was produced by Sizwe Zako, her discoverer and longtime mentor. Together they craft a typical Rebecca Malope project that blends up-tempo instrumentation, soulful rhythms and spiritual lyrics.

One of the best tracks off the album, ‘Let me come to you’ was composed by the late Vuyo Mukoena, with whom she made numerous hits in the 90s. The song takes the praise and worship style and really adds weight to the first disk, all thanks to her sorrowful voice and an emotional string accompaniment.

Rebecca manages to maintain momentum on the second disk, which fires off with the well-arranged song, ‘Mama’. She sings about her mother and laments on how she misses her love.The album also contains other interesting tracks that don’t quite reach the heights of the aforementioned songs, but which are still enjoyable listening such as ‘Sondelani’, “king of Kings’, ‘In your arms’ and ‘Africa’.

The success of My Hero is yet to be determined but it will likely find her more awards this year. This is because she not only has a huge loyal following and a respectable name in the gospel scene, but also because a 30^th album is a rare achievement in the local industry. There is nothing extraordinary on this album but her experience allows her to maintain the same message and sound for which she’s lured loads of listeners over the years.

Cover/Art: 3.5/5 | Sound/Technical: 4/5 | Rating: 7/10

How is the latest album doing?

Lundi: It’s been doing great and I am very pleased with it.

What are you doing to promote it?

Lundi: Well, we did a lot of promotional events last year but right now I’m busy with other things and I cannot fully commit to massive promotions.

Which other things are you doing?

Lundi: I am currently helping other artists and also helping impoverished children in the country and I have also committed myself to furthering my education.

You have collaborated with a lot of musicians to date, is there anyone you still wish to work with?

Lundi: I’d love to work with Rebecca Malope again. I really wish to do a full album with her in the future.

Are you planning to release another album soon?

Lundi: Yes, that’s the idea and I’m very happy that everything is going according to plan. My next album will be released early next year.

What would you say has been your best album so far?

Lundi: All of them, I always put my best effort and I love how they all sound.

Any message for your fans?

Lundi: I’m very grateful. They’ve been with me all these years and I really appreciate it.