In a solemn gathering in East London, South Africa, Zahara, the beloved South African songstress, found her final resting place on Saturday on 23rd December, 2023.
The funeral was graced by a multitude of fellow celebrities, friends, and family members bidding farewell to the artist.
Her family painted her as a radiant light, embodying pureness in both heart and soul.
They hailed her as a beacon of hope, a musical prodigy whose extraordinary talent touched the lives of millions worldwide.
“And an even purer heart, in this world. A beacon of hope, a gift and a blessing to us and countless people around the world. A legendary figure in the world of music, Zahara remarkably touched millions of people’s lives with her extraordinary gift and passion for music.
Adding, “She leaves behind an indelible mark on the music industry and a legacy that will forever resonate in our hearts and souls.”
ALSO READ: ‘Loliwe’ hitmaker Zahara passes away at the age of 35
During the ceremony, South African musician Ringo Madlingozi paid homage to Zahara by performing her renowned hit ‘Loliwe.’
Expressing deep disappointment, Madlingozi voiced the industry’s collective failure in safeguarding Zahara.
He lamented the lack of mutual respect and love among South Africans, highlighting a stark contrast in the treatment of local artists versus international acclaim.
He passionately asserted that Zahara, a provider of beautiful and healing music, deserved better protection and recognition.
“We have failed Zahara as South Africans. To protect Zahara, because we don’t love one another. We respect artists from other countries, but here at home we don’t respect or love one another, and that’s why we die in this manner.”
“We are artists. We are people. Zahara gave us beautiful music, healing music. I will always love her. I know there were people who loved her but we have failed her, and that is the truth. We never realised the star in her. We should have protected her better than we did.”
Zahara passed away on December 11th after a prolonged hospitalization and suffering from liver complications, leaving behind a profound void in the music world.
The South African multi-award winning singer Bulelwa Mkutukana alias Zhara rose to fame with the hit song ‘Loliwe.’
The song from her debut album ‘Loliwe’ hit the airwaves and it went platinum.
At the beginning of the year in August, she did a powerful rendition of a beautiful song to empower the women during an “Intimate Session with Zahara.”
She captioned on IG, “The strength we carry as women cannot be compared to anything else in this world.”
