SOUTH AFRICA: South African singer Unathi Msengana hopes to solidify her place in music with latest project

Record ID: 459329

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: South African singer Unathi Msengana hopes to solidify her place in music with latest project
  • Date: 8th October 2013
  • Summary: SINGER UNATHI SEATED WITH JOURNALIST (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNATHI MSENGANA, SINGER AND RADIO HOST SAYING: "My music is definitely a reflection, part of my spirituality, I don't, I don't know if this will make sense, but I don't believe it's me writing the lyrics. I don't believe it's me composing the composition and the melody. I feel like I'm a vessel you know and I think that's why now I feel that there is purpose on what I do, as opposed to just oh my gosh I'm here what am I gonna go."
  • Embargoed: 23rd October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Arts
  • Reuters ID: LVADDQ3S52VI8PTTJFBXEZ4B7YKI
  • Story Text: Popular South African DJ Unathi Msengana has been a household name in the South African entertainment scene for many years; juggling a career as a radio presenter, actress, singer, reality show judge and businesswoman.
    But it's music that has always held a special place in Unathi's heart.
    She recently released her first ever live DVD performance titled "An Intimate Night with Unathi", seen as a major milestone in her career, and hopes to one day reach the same status as other South African musical greats such as Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela amongst others.
    Combining her brand of honesty and vulnerability, Unathi said her music allows her to share her joys and sorrows, something that resonates with many of her fans.

    "My music is definitely a reflection, part of my spirituality, I don't, I don't know if this will make sense, but I don't believe it's me writing the lyrics. I don't believe it's me composing the composition and the melody. I feel like I'm a vessel you know and I think that's why now I feel that there is purpose on what I do, as opposed to just oh my gosh I'm here what am I gonna go," she said.
    Born and raised in the Eastern Cape province, Unathi moved to Johannesburg in 2001 after acquiring her tertiary qualifications from Universiteit van Utrecht in The Netherlands and Rhodes University.
    As she marks 10 years in the industry, Unathi said she also wanted to pave the way for young and upcoming artists, by emphasising the importance of ownership of their music.
    Unathi financed the entire project of her recent live DVD release.

    "For the first time I am in charge, for the first time I can visualise and make it happen and there's something so empowering about that, being a musician but also being a woman on the African continent. And it was something I was determined to achieve and that's why I had to finance it myself so that my vision could be realised and my dream could be realised, but also I could empower other women as well on the African continent to remind them that we can be and do whatever we want and we can own whatever we want," Unathi said.
    Today, with three albums under her belt, Unathi still attracts crowds whenever she performs.

    "The show is very African, natural and I like the way she express herself. Unathi, she's connecting to women and I saw a lot of women and that touched me," said one Johannesburg resident Katlego, after attending one of Unathi's shows.

    "The music is top notch you know, honestly it's been...I haven't been a follower of Unathi and so forth, but after tonight you know I'm impressed with the quality of sound, the quality of music and that's what we need in South Africa, so I'm really impressed you know," added another fan, Phuti Ngobeni.
    Although Unathi has graced both local and international stages, singing with music greats such as John Legend and Youssou Ndour, she said one of her proudest moments was her song "Sgubhu", which featured on the soundtrack of the first South African film to win an Oscar, "Tsotsi".
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