DURBAN - The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has joined throngs of music lovers in paying tribute to gospel artist Deborah Fraser who died on Sunday.
She died at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital after she had been ill for a while.
Labelling her death as saddening and shocking, ANC KZN spokesperson Nhlakanipho Ntombela described Fraser as one of South Africa's finest gospel musicians.
“Although we were aware that mama Fraser, 56, was not well for some time, the ANC KZN had a flickering hope that she would pull through to be fit enough to be back on stage to entertain her legions of gospel music fans. However, that was not to be,” said Ntombela.
He described her passing as a huge loss to the music industry and the country, saying it had robbed the country of the contribution she would have continued to make in the development of the music industry.
“The ANC KZN pays tribute to this legend who became a beacon of hope and inspiration to many people across the continent who relied on her music at all times when faced with difficulties. The gospel music genre played a critical therapeutic role for the brutalised majority of our people during the darkest days of the criminal apartheid system,” Ntombela continued.
Fraser, the spokesperson added, was not just a singer to many in the ANC, but was among many musicians who formed part of the ANC’s ambassadors and continued to work with the ANC for years.
Ntombela recalled how the KwaMashu-born Fraser began her music career in the 80s as a backing vocalist for a number of artists, including the late Brenda Fassie, Hugh Masikela, Jonas Gwangwa, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Lucky Dube, and how her star kept on rising over the years.
“Mama Fraser has left a huge void, not only to her biological family but to us all South Africans. She was a rare breed of a gospel singer who never changed her colours due to her successes in the music industry,” Ntombela said, adding that her music would continue to inspire people for years to come.
Details of Fraser’s funeral arrangements are expected to be announced this week.
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