“I’m falling in love with the versatile Winnie who takes criticism as constructive on this journey,” says gospel singer and businesswoman Winnie Mashaba.
Speaking about reaching her 20-year milestone in the music industry and recent collaborations with Spirit of Praise, Bo from Denim and DJ Chase, she says: “We must move with the times. If people like this kind of sound now, you must see what you can do to fit in.
“I told myself that I’m not going to compete with anyone except myself. I see Winnie Mashaba as her own fan, an artist who is versatile.
“I was able to go to Spirit of Praise and adjust to the challenge they gave me. I even did Soul to Soul by the Temptations.
“I wanted to challenge myself so when my producer said ‘let’s try something that’s different from Winnie’, I said ‘challenge accepted’.’’
Mashaba is celebrating her two decades in the music industry loudly, having recorded a compilation DVD and CD of her 17 albums titled The Journey with Winnie Mashaba and a concert in Botswana ahead.
She has already recorded the first leg of her documentary titled Winnie Mashaba and is planning to release it this year.
“I wanted to do the documentary while I’m still alive so I can share my life with people. We have completed the first leg and the second part will be performances.
“The third one will be made when I’m no longer alive. The fact that people always make documentaries after we have died inspired me to do it. I wanted to see what goes on.’’
The gospel genre chose her, Mashaba says.
“Funnily enough, I love the late Lucky Dube’s music and Brenda Fassie’s because that’s the music we grew up listening to.
“But the music that I was singing, and feeling that I’m being moved from within, was gospel.
“It was very meaningful for me when I sang gospel rather than other genres.
“I would say it was not a choice, I was just answering a calling.
“I could have sang mbaqanga, hip-hop, RnB or mmapadi - it’s a traditional music - but the music that made me feel at home was gospel.’’
She started her music career in 1998 with Solly Moholo, recording three albums before they parted ways and she signed up with a recording label.
“I started working with EMI from there and worked with Faxa Dube and the late Felani Gumbi, who worked with us on only one album, Bonang Lerato, and then he passed away.
“I was with EMI until it was bought by Universal Records and I’m still there after 17 albums, and I thank God for that.’’
It’s been a bitter-sweet journey, but one that she cherishes, she says.
Her best memories are the first time she boarded a plane when she was going to the Kora Awards in 2005 and the many accolades she has won.
Mashaba’s wish for her legacy is for her music to inspire ubuntu in people’s lives, “for the spirit of ubuntu to be instilled in our communities everywhere, whether educated or not, old or young, Christian or not”.
“I will be the happiest if people say the music of Winnie Mashaba has united them and now they are speaking the same language and no one see themselves as better than the next person and we all respect that we are all created in God’s image.
“That would be the best gift in the world.’’
Two decades in the music industry, Mashaba has recorded a compilation DVD and CD of her 17 albums titled The Journey with Winnie Mashaba and a concert in Botswana ahead. Video by Constance Gaanakgomo
The Sunday Independent