Zimbabwean-born artist Lebani Sirenje, better known as Rasta The Artist, returned to his paintbrush and canvas, this time to honour the late multi-award-winning singing sensation, Zahara.
Born Bulelwa Mkutukana, Zahara died on 11 December 2023 at a private Johannesburg hospital due to liver complications. She was then laid to rest on 23 December in her hometown Phumlani in the Eastern Cape.
As a way to remember and honour the late Loliwe songstress, Rasta dedicated his first Instagram post of 2024 to Zahara. Sharing snaps of three portraits, Rasta wrote in his caption, “Rest @zaharasa, I wish I painted you when you were still alive. You would have loved the painting as it depicts the girl you [were] in [the] country and lands. You played a guitar to my life when it was broken. Sohlangana✌? kwelizayo ??.”
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In a separate Instagram post, Rasta also acknowledged the late theatre and music extraordinaire, Mbongeni Ngema, who passed away on 27 December 2023 after succumbing to injuries in a head-on car crash while returning from a funeral in Lusikisiki in Bizana, Eastern Cape.
Rasta’s caption read:
“Farewell @drmbongeningema, your bravery liberated us from incindezi with your guitar and creative skills. You won the battle without da bullet. Hamba kahle Qhawe sohlala sikukhumbula ????✌?☮️????.”
He further shared that the painting is displayed at the Playhouse Company in Durban.
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Also see: WATCH: Jacob Zuma’s moving tribute to Mbongeni Ngema
