Tshedi Mholo, the Afropop singer of Malaika fame, is going back to her musical roots to give thanks and praise to God after her many trials and tribulations.
Mholo and fellow Malaika members Jabulani Ndaba, who has died, and Bongani Nchang – met while singing in a choir at the African Methodist Episcopal church. Malaika went on to become a household name in the country.
On a mission to showcase her versatility, backed by her album Victory, Mholo will perform at her third annual show at The Fringe: Joburg Theatre, to be themed “The Gospel Renditions”.
“This is the third show that I’m doing on an annual basis. In 2016 I did a show celebrating 40 years; last year’s was 'Romantic Soulful Train'. All the shows I do are themed.
“I’ve always wanted to do the gospel part, but it took a lot of courage and a lot of time for me to actually think about it. People know me as an Afropop singer but, over and above that, I’m a very spiritual person.
"We met as Malaika through being choir members in a church, and I’m still part of that church to this day.
“For years I've felt that this was the right thing to do since God has been so good to me in many ways that are countless.”
Tshedi Mholo. Picture: Supplied
After spending time in the studio and since the release of her album, she sees the break as a time to connect with her spirituality.
“I’ve always been seen as Tshedi from Malaika, and everything has been Malaika this, Malaika that. I think it’s also good because it encourages you as a person to go back to the basics, and to ask God to lead and to show me what he has in store for me,” she said.
She added that, even with Malaika, gospel always had a powerful presence as each album had a gospel song.
Her aim is to explore her talent by tackling other genres.
“I grew up next to a ZCC church, I used to attend, clap and tap choirs and I was a choral member, so I’ve done the musical versatility in a way. This is to show those who are coming up and looking up to me that they can do it.”
Even after releasing her solo album in 2013, she said she felt something was lacking in her life. “You need to be mentally and emotionally ready to get in the studio to do what you love, and to deliver and produce something that will change people’s lives. If it doesn’t start with me, how can I expect what I do in the studio to trigger something in other people’s hearts?
“There is a choir that I'll be featuring from North West. I'd also love to have a clap and tap choir that is based in Joburg to come and be given a platform.
“The songs I'll be doing mostly are songs that I grew up singing. Some of the songs speak to me on a personal level, and some of them I used to sing at church, and you can tell what it does when you are singing them.”