Zahara
Zahara, a singer from South Africa who found great success with multiple platinum-selling albums and a slew of awards throughout her career, has passed away. She was 36.
The sad news was confirmed by her family on social media, noting that she died on Monday, Dec. 11, before saying, “She was a pure light, and an even purer heart… She leaves behind an indelible mark on the music industry and a legacy that will forever resonate in our hearts and souls.”
“A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. May we remember Zahara not with sorrow, but with the healing, joy, kindness, and inspiration she brought to us through her life and music. May she rest in eternal peace, and may her melodies continue to echo in our hearts forever,” the statement concluded.
Zizi Kodwa, the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture of South Africa, also posted about Zahara’s passing, writing, “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.”
On Nov. 27, the family shared a statement on social media announcing that Zahara had been admitted to the hospital for “physical pains,” before warning people of the spread of misinformation.
Zahara reportedly dealt with alcoholism in the past which led to damage to her livers. As reported by The Guardian, her sister Nomonde said in 2019, “If [Zahara] continues drinking, she is going to die… We are making sure that there is always someone around her to monitor her so that she doesn’t start drinking again.”
The South African singer’s career reached incredible heights, with Zahara even singing for Nelson Mandela before his death in 2013. Her debut album Loliwe came out in 2011, achieving great sales and earning three South African Music Awards. From there, her success only grew.
As of writing, Zahara’s family did not share an official cause of death.
