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Renowned South African Musician Zahara Passes Away at 35

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In a heartbreaking turn of events, celebrated South African musician Zahara, born Bulelwa Mkutukana, has tragically passed away at the age of 35. The news of her untimely death was confirmed by Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture Zizi Kodwa, who expressed deep sorrow on social media.

“I am very saddened by the passing of @ZaharaSA. My deepest condolences to the Mkutukana family and the South African music industry. Government has been with the family for some time now. Zahara and her guitar made an incredible and lasting impact in South African music,” shared Kodwa.

Zahara, a multi-award-winning artist, breathed her last at a private hospital in Johannesburg on Monday night. The artist had been admitted to the hospital a week prior after celebrating her birthday on November 9. The hospitalization followed the payment of lobola (bride price) by her fiancé, Mpho Xaba.

A statement released by the family a week ago read, “Zahara has been admitted to the hospital following a week of complaints about physical pains. The doctors are working diligently, and we await further updates from them.”

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Despite efforts to maintain confidentiality, misinformation about Zahara’s health circulated on the internet. The family emphasized that accurate updates would only be communicated through her official social media platforms.

“Unfortunately, even though our daughter’s hospitalization has been of strict confidentiality within our family and close friends, that hasn’t stopped the spread of disingenuous information on the internet. We want to stress that any reliable information regarding Zahara’s health will be communicated via her official social media platforms or by herself.”

Zahara’s impact on the music scene was monumental, with chart-topping albums like the double-platinum debut “Loliwe” (2011) and “Nqaba Yam” (2021), which peaked at number 1 on iTunes. Her illustrious career earned her 17 South African Music Awards, three Metro FM Awards, and one Nigeria Entertainment Award.

Beyond her musical achievements, Zahara’s influence transcended borders, landing her a spot on the BBC’s 2020 list of 100 Women. She also served as a guest judge on the seventeenth season of Idols South Africa in 2021. Zahara’s legacy in South African music remains indelible, and her contributions will be remembered by fans and the industry alike.

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