STAFF WRITER
FOR many in the arts industry, the Covid-19 pandemic brought with it debilitating challenges that saw them struggling to recover but afro-pop muso Bekezela believes it was a blessing in disguise.
While some would have sought refuge during the period, it was at the height of the pandemic the South African-based muso decided to part ways with the record label that thrust him into the limelight and gave him fame, Muthaland Records.
With his contract expiring in September 2020, Bekezela made no moves to renew and instead decided to chart a new path, taking reins over his affairs.
“The lockdown was a blessing in disguise, I did so much soul searching,” he reveals.
“I survived through farming in my plot in Botswana where I am doing horticulture growing vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbages, green pepper, carrots, swiss chard, choumolia and rape.
“I also enrolled for a life coaching program with Shirzad Chamine, an internationally renowned life coach, which gave me perspective and assisted me a lot in my soul searching.”
Instead of continuing to fall under Muthaland, he decided the future was to work with the record label as consultants while handling his own business and also assisting new entrants into the music scene get a soft landing onto the market.
He teamed up with his friend, lawyer, Genius “Hlase” Mthembu to come up with Kreative Space Media through which he will be pursuing his music affairs.
“The music scene is harsh to newcomers and I am hoping to use this vehicle to groom and assist new entrants find their feet in the industry.
“Over the years, I have amassed a vast network of contacts and experience and I’m using these to pave the way for those entering the industry.
“Getting established in the industry is a very long tedious process because if you are not well informed you won’t know what to do, when to do it and how to even go about it.
“Jeff (Jephter Gumbo) is one of those I am working with and assisted him in recording his single, Abafaneleyo,” said Bekezela, real name Bothwell Nkomo.
He said as Kreative Space they won’t be signing up musicians but rather guiding them and assisting them find their feet.
Bekezela said for his forthcoming album, Vulani, he has partnered with Ziiki Media, an international music distributor for the distribution of the album on all digital spaces.
“We are strategically partnering with various stakeholders that include the media, distributors, venues, choreographers, promoters so that we manage an entire project from beginning to end,” he said.
Bekezela revealed he will be releasing Vulani next month and it will coincide with a tour that will see him crisscross South Africa before performing in five African countries and then heading to Europe.
“I am personally kick-starting my tour which is called the Vulani tour that goes across five provinces, Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape. We have earmarked five African countries which are Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique and we are also lining up shows in the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Austria, Budapest, Hungary, Czech Republic and Germany.
“Coming from the lockdown, I am obviously looking forward to this tour, meeting my fans once again and showcasing this new work that I have been working on,” he said.
Under Muthaland, Bekezela recorded his breakout album, a self-titled work that thrust him into the limelight as he rebranded from his previous stage name Bozoe.
The album got him recognised as it set airwaves ablaze with a unique soul, afro-pop element.
He also released Uluju under the South African record label which was released late last year.
