BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – STRICTLY Divas!
Exciting news for soul music lovers as Amanda Black, Mvelo, iYa, and Owa Oda will be performing at the Diva’s Concert on December 3, 2023. The event will be held at The George Hotel Gardens.
These female artists have been remarkable in putting female voices out there.
They have also shown that when women work together, anything can be achieved, which is what the event is all about.
These ladies will be joined by South African singer Amanda Black on stage. Mvelo and iYa have worked together on a couple of songs. They have also graced many stages in the country after winning the MTN Bushfire Firefly in 2019.
Presented by New Life Entertainment, the event is set to celebrate these women and each and everyone who would attend the show.
This concept was introduced by the stable to help shine the light on female artists, whether singers, deejays, MCs or any other artists who are making waves in their field. Amanda Black, ‘Amazulu’’ hit maker, will perform in the country for the second time in a long time.
The first event in 2019 saw a number of women dressed for the occasion, which then turned the concert into a fashion and music show.
Fun lovers were also excited about the show as they took to social media to express their excitement. Tickets to the show are available at CompuTicket.
Amanda Benedicta Antony (born 24 July 1993), known professionally as Amanda Black, is a South African singer and songwriter.
Born and raised in Gcuwa her career began in 1999 at the age of 6 singing in church choirs.
Amanda was a contestant on Idols South Africa season 11.] Black relocated to Johannesburg in 2016 to pursue her music career. She signed a record deal with Ambitiouz Entertainment in 2016 and achieved recognition in the same year following the release of her hit single ‘Amazulu’ which was nominated for several music awards.
Her debut studio album Amazulu (2016), was commercially successful and won Album of the Year Best Newcomer of the Year, Best Female Artist of the Year and Best R&B Soul/Reggae Album. In 2019, she was named the most-stream artist on Apple Music.
Amanda’s third studio album, Mnyama was released in 2021. It was preceded by two singles; “Kutheni Na” and “Let It Go.
Amanda Black began singing at an early age in church then later continued to sing to her favourite artists, including Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Brandy Norwood, and Brenda Fassie. She sings in Xhosa and English.
In an interview with Patience Bambalele of The Sowetan, she describes her genre of music as Afro-soul with a fusion of hip-hop and a bit of soul and R&B.
On 29 May 2017, the singer appeared in an interview on the SuperSport TV show Home Ground hosted by Minnie Dlamini and Lungile Radu just a few months after her album Amazulu was released.
Alongside her was her music producer Christer Kobedi, who claimed that the album was created and finalised in just over one month.
The singer also expressed that the album title song “Amazulu” was, in fact, the first song she had ever written in her home language, Xhosa.
Amanda Black usually adorns her face with Stipples of Xhosa face paint as an expression of how proud she is of her roots.
Xhosa facial art Xhosa umchokozo is used to represent Xhosa people.
“There are different types of patterns, which are created mostly by women. When I was growing up, they were mostly done on special occasions but in some rural parts of the Eastern Cape, for example, umchokozo is an everyday practice. The Xhosa facial art that I wear on my face has quickly become part of my brand as Amanda Black. But it started as a way of expressing myself and embracing who I am. For me, it’s taking back my culture as a Xhosa woman – and feeling beautiful while doing it. It’s about me living the way I understand my culture to be. It’s a way of representing my roots and where I am from,” once said the singer in an interview.
Meanwhile, the Divas Concert is an event presented by New Life Entertainment, the event sets to celebrate these women and each and everyone who would attend the show.
