The late multi-award-winning singer Bulelwa “Zahara” Mkutukana’s funeral service took place today at the East London International Conventional Centre, with her body laid to rest at a cemetery in her hometown Phumlani, an informal settlement located outside East London.
Zahara sadly passed on the 11th of December, at a Johannesburg private hospital after being admitted for liver complications a few weeks prior to that.
Attending the late singer’s funeral in the Eastern Cape, East London were bishops, reverends, Minister of Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, TK Nciza, Sbu Leope, Vusi Nova, Ringo Madlingozi and many other important guests.
Speaking at the Loliwe hit maker’s funeral was her close friend Vusi Nova, who shared that he and Zahara spoke intensively of their troubles and secrets with each other. Vusi added that he will never share Zahara’s secrets with anyone, vouching to take them to the grave with him when he dies as she did with his.
Speaking at the funeral, an emotional Vusi who got overwhelmed with emotions as he began his speech shared:
“uBulelwa was special, she was extra-ordinary. Whenever we were together everyone around us would have to understand, kuzomanyelwa uVusi no Bulelwa (we would be the ones they’d be listening to) all the time.”
He continued:
“Morning until night kudlala (we’d be playing) Vusi Nova noZahara and that’s why I say she was the one person who understood me, I understood her. Bulelwa literally took ii-secrets zam to the grave. she took all my secrets to the grave uBulelwa. I want to promise her namhlanje ukuba (today that) I will take all her secrets to the grave.
“I will never, never, ever ndixelele abanye abantu ngezinto ebesithetha ngazo mna naye (share the things we use to talk about).”
The Asiphelelanga hitmaker continued with his speech, sharing how the much-loved songstress was the last time he spoke to her in hospital. He shared that she had a very big smile when he got to her private room at the hospital sitting without the hospital machines, also adding that they even assured one another they loved each other before he left the hospital.
He finished off saying:
“I want to promise you a second thing, umama wakho no tata wakho (your mother and father), your sisters, your brother, rest mntasekhaya, I will take care of them, I make sure ba (they are) right.”
WATCH: Vusi Nova’s speech at Zahara’s funeral.
WATCH| Vusi Nova breaks down in tears as he paid tribute to his friend, Zahara Mkutukana. “She was the one person who understood me and I understood her.”#RIPZahara #ZaharaFuneral#Zahara pic.twitter.com/TFpD4UYMYG
— NewsOclock (@NewsOclock_SA) December 23, 2023
WATCH: The rest of Vusi Nova’s speech at Zahara’s funeral
#ZaharaFuneral
Vusi paying tribute to her friend ?? pic.twitter.com/lpkteNfFjk— Bobolicious (@Bobondarala) December 23, 2023
Also see: WATCH: Zahara’s awards and guitar arrive home to her mother
