…South African radio stations honour her name
BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE– The country is still reeling in shock after the news of award-winning gospel artist Mayibongwe Mthimkhulu made rounds yesterday.
Half the country has poured in their heartfelt condolences and South African radio stations and fans have done the same.
Earlier this morning Ligwalagwala FM and Newz Room Afrika paid their condolences and shared their condolences with the Mthimkhulu family and Lukhele families.
Online Media houses yesterday broke the story that All Nations Bishop’s wife Mayibongwe Mthimkhulu had untimely passed on. The award-winning gospel artist Mayibongwe Mthimkhulu died while receiving treatment at Medisun Clinic on Tuesday evening.
Mthimkhulu married All Nations Bishop Lukhele a few years ago; she was a teacher at St Mark’s Primary School.
Since then social media has been abuzz with condolences and words of warmth dedicated to the late gospel singer. The Music fraternity has also shared their condolences to her family, children, and colleagues.
Joining in on the condolences bandwagon was the Association of Christian Artists in Eswatini (ACESWA) as they mourned Mthimkhulu as their former Hhohho sub-regional committee member of the association.
Mayibongwe Mthimkhulu was an accomplished gospel singer from Manzini, in the Kingdom of Eswatini. She started singing as a teenager; her talent was natured by Ncandweni Christ Ambassadors’ Khayalethu Masuku who conducted a choir in high school.
She became a lead singer at Manzini Healing Waters and joined Redemption Mass Choir. She shot to instant fame after controversial singer Mzwakhe Myeni identified her and featured her on his hit song ‘Abrahama’.
Her success in the song saw her building a successful reputation as well as a career as a gospel artist. In 2006, she released her debut album called ‘Emncam’lezweni’.
This was followed by her 2009 album ‘Emergency Exit’, which was succeeded by her studio release album ‘Akathengwa’. The project did well since its release August 2011.
In 2014, she scooped three awards during the Swaziland Gospel Music Awards. One of the major awards was the Most Popular Artist which came with a prize tag of a Jaguar S-Type vehicle, which was sponsored by Car Land Motors.
She has done a number of performances, mostly road shows for companies like Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC) and Swazi Bank. In 2014, the award-winning gospel sensation was elected as chairperson of the Association of Christian Artists in Swaziland (ACASWA) Hhohho Regional Committee.
One of the most beautiful and heartfelt condolences shared on Facebook by a close friend described Mthimkhulu as a funny being.
“Goodnight friend❤. I will always love you, to say the least. I have read most of the negativity on this platform but here is what people do not know; you were brave child. You never let your medical condition dim your light, you outshined epilepsy.
“Everyone knew you were too much but some of us knew that ‘too much’ suited you beautifully! Mayibongwe ne drama and a wild sense of humour; very childish!! At Mater Dolorosa high school, we would laugh till we turned pink and almost caused Sister Benni a heart attack. You were also very selective in your circle, and very paranoid. I love you my sis; Mthimkhulu, Bhungane, Mashiyamahle,” read the condolence note on Facebook.
