Ten months after the tragic passing of acclaimed South African singer and songwriter Bulelwa “Zahara” Mkutukana, her upcoming 37th birthday on 9 November has ignited a family dispute.
Two separate birthday tributes are planned – one in Johannesburg, organised by her close friends and fans, and another in her hometown of East London, spearheaded by her family and other friends. This division has exposed underlying tensions and differing views on how best to honour Zahara’s memory.
Zahara’s mother, Nokhaya Mkutukana, has voiced her disapproval of the Johannesburg event, questioning the sincerity of those organising it.
“If the army were that close to her, they would make it to East London. We can’t have two separate events,” she stated. She also expressed her belief that a single, unified celebration in East London would be a more fitting tribute.
In Johannesburg, the “Zahara Army,” a dedicated group of fans and close associates, are planning a celebration at the Decalabash Hotel in Randfontein. Lisa Gwengxeka, Zahara’s former assistant and confidante, and a member of the Zahara Army, explained their intentions.
“I lived with her, woke up next to her every day. I was there through everything. She was my sister and after mourning, I want us to celebrate her life,” Lisa told ZiMoja.
She emphasised that the event is a genuine expression of love and remembrance, not a commercial venture.
“We are not planning to coin-it using her name. We miss her dearly and just want to honour her the best way we know how,” she said.
Gwengxeka acknowledged the logistical challenges of attending a celebration in East London for many members of the Zahara Army.
“She loved celebrating her birthday and every year, we got together to celebrate, and we will do that in true Zahara style. But not everyone will have the financial capacity to get to East London. So, we are planning something intimate for her in Joburg. I have communicated this with her family,” said Gwengxeka.
Zahara’s death in December 2023, following weeks in intensive care due to liver complications, left a void in the South African music scene and amongst her devoted fanbase.
The song, “Emva Kwendlu,” recorded earlier in 2023, was initially intended for later release. However, Zahara’s illness and subsequent death led to the project being shelved. A source close to the situation explained.
“At some point, they spoke about releasing the song but when Zahara became sick, the project was abandoned. It was going to be unfair for Csana to release the song while Zahara was lying in her hospital bed,” said the source.
Csana’s management team had planned to release the song on 30 August, but Zahara’s family and management raised objections, citing a lack of instructions from Zahara regarding her unreleased music. The source added: “It is a beautiful song; this is disappointing for the fans,” highlighting the potential impact of the unreleased track.
The source also revealed that while Zahara’s sister, Bandezwa, isn’t opposed to the release, she has concerns about the financial aspects.
“She wants to know how much they stand to receive from the song,” the source said.
The dispute appears to centre on balancing the desire to honour Zahara’s legacy with ensuring fair compensation for her estate.
Csana’s team views the release as a fitting tribute to their late friend.
