Gospel artist Charisma Hanekam is representing the gospel music industry at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. Hanekam, who has become a familiar face on our TV screens, thanks to music shows such as Gospel Gold and Gospel Time, loves sharing the gospel.
“The festival is about arts and culture and I am part of a gospel workshop. The workshop focuses on the gospel industry and I will be ministering,” she says.
“I have met so many gifted and talented people and its important for them to know what to expect when they enter the industry and I am here to help them with that.”
Hanekam has come a long way since being the second runner-up in the finals of the reality show I Want To Sing Gospel. She released her album My Journey in 2009, and it was nominated in the South African Music Awards’ Best Urban Gospel Album category last year.
But she maintains that keeping up with the music industry is not easy.
“It is been tough. When I came out of the I Want to Sing Gospel competition, the real competition started. I had to figure out what to do next to move my career along. The prize from the competition was R25 000, which is not much. I was fortunate to record my debut album, My Journey, with Lindelani Mkhize and to get a chance to sing with Joyous Celebration. I am not in a hurry to release my next album because I feel I still need to market My Journey more.
“There is so much to learn in the gospel industry and I thank God I have the opportunity of learning from successful people.”
During a recent appearance on Gospel Time, Hanekam said she was set on spreading her wings into ministry. Host Rebecca Malope was quick to respond that female ministers were rare in South African churches, but Hanekam is confident that she can pull it off.
I would have thought that branching out would include modelling because she certainly has the looks for it.
“Ha, ha, I have heard a lot of people commenting I am a Ciara look-alike, so maybe it’s a revelation that my music is destined to reach the international music scene. However, God has put me into ministry and that is what I am going to do, but I need to study first.
“I am studying psychology at Unisa and after that I’d like to get into theology. I like to get into people’s minds and share the word. I know I have a gift when it comes to singing, but I need to nurture it and grow with it. This will give me a clear idea as to what I want to focus on.”
She might not be in a hurry to release her next album but Hanekam is branching out into bigger things in gospel. This proves that beauty and brains sometimes do go hand in hand.