Berita

Gugulethu Khumalo (born 27 June 1991), best known by her stage name Berita, is a Zimbabwean-born singer, songwriter and music producer. Her music is a combination of soul music containing elements from Afro Jazz, contemporary pop influences as well as South African dance music. She is the owner of the independent record label Assali Music.[1] She is also the founder of the Women of Music Business (WOMB), a pan African women empowerment organisation in the music industry.[2]

Berita
Berita in 2016.
Berita in 2016.
Background information
Birth nameGugulethu Khumalo
Born (1991-06-27) 27 June 1991
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
OriginZimbabwe
GenresAfro-soul, Afro pop
Occupation(s)
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • music producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, acoustic guitar
Years active2012–present
LabelsAssali Music
Websitewww.beritaafrosoul.co.za

Early life and education

Berita was born on the 27th of June 1991 in Bulawayo. She is the first born in a family of five. She spent a part of her childhood in Bulawayo and Zhombe where her parents were teachers at Rio Tinto.[3] She attended St Martin de Porres in Zhombe, Nketa Primary school and Greenfield Primary school in Bulawayo.[4] In 2007, she moved to New Zealand with her family in search of greener pastures due to the difficult economic and political climate in Zimbabwe and later moved to South Africa to pursue her tertiary education at Walter Sisulu University in the Eastern Cape.[5]

Career

In 2012, she released her debut album titled Conquering Spirit, which peaked at #1 on iTunes and earned her Gold Status on RISA and won the Best African Pop Album award at the 2013 Metro FM Awards.[6]

In 2014, she collaborated with legendary singers Hugh Masekela and Oliver Mtukudzi on the single, "Mwana Wa Mai".[7] That following year she collaborated with Black Motion on the "Mwana Wa Mai" remix.[8]

In 2016, she participated in Coke Studio which resulted in the release of the single, "Vusu Yeke" which she collaborated with rapper, Yanga Chief.[9]

Her single "Ezizweni" peaked #1 on Metro FM’s Top 40 chart and Ukhozi FM’s Top 20 chart[10] And her debut single titled "Ndicel'ikiss" peaked #21 on the radio monitor RAMS charts, recorded under her independent label ASSALI Music. She collaborated with Mobi Dixon on her single "Ezizweni"[10] and Da Capo on "Found You".[11]

In February 2020, she released her fourth studio album, Songs in the Key of Love.[12] At the 27th annual South African Music Awards, the album received an award for the Rest of Africa Award.[13] The album's leading single "Jikizinto" peaked #1 on the Radio Monitor charts, making her the first female solo independent artist to peak #1 in the new decade.[14] Her previous music release "Ungandibulali" peaked #1 spending 3 weeks at the top on the Radio Monitor Charts, the single featured Ndlovu Youth Choir and was the theme song during the 2020s 16 Days of activism period as part of SABC's 'Do Not Turn A Blind Eye' campaign against GBV.[15] She also collaborated with Amanda Black on the single, "Siyathandana".[16]

In fashion, she has collaborated with local South African designers such as Athenkosi Mgundlwa, KISUA and Rich Factory.[17]

She has performed at music festivals such as the Bayimba International Festival in Uganda, Lake of Stars Festival,[18] Jakaranda Music Festival in Zimbabwe[19] and the Cape Town Jazz Festival as part of Oliver Mtukudzi’s tribute concert.[20]

On 27 May 2021, she was appointed as one of the board members for the Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA).[21]

Discography

Awards and nominations
Year Award ceremony Prize Result
2013 Metro FM Music Awards Best African pop album Won[22]
2015 South African Afro Music Awards Rising Star of the Year Won[23]
Wawela Music Awards Songwriter of the Year Won[24]
2016 Zimbabwe Achievers Awards Music artist of the Year Nominated[25]
2016 Eastern Cape Music Awards Best female Won[26]
2019 Zimbabwe Achievers Awards Music artist of the Year Nominated[27]
2021 Zimbabwe Music Awards Best RNB & Soul Nominated[28]
Best Album of the Year Nominated[28]
South African Music Awards Rest of Africa Artist Won[29][13]

References
  1. "Berita, Ami Faku & more: meet SA's new generation of fierce female artists". Times Live. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  2. "Sony Music Africa partners with Women of Music Business to launch new 'masterclass' training programme". bizcommunity.com. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  3. "One on one with Gugulethu 'Berita' Khumalo's mom". bulawayo24.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  4. "Xhosas claim her . . . as she takes South Africans by storm". chronicle.co.zw. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  5. "The background and the story behind Berita". beatmagazinesa.co.za. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  6. "The Rise of Zimbabwean Music Star ..." voazimbabwe.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  7. "It's all love as Berita releases new song". sowetanlive.co.za. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  8. "Berita collaborates with Black Motion for 'Mwana Wa Mai' remix". yomzansi.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  9. "Berita, Yanga taking the airwaves by storm". dispatchlive.co.za. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  10. "Mobi Dixon debuts 'Ezizweni' music video feat. Berita". yomzansi.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  11. "STREAM: Da Capo & Berita collaborate on new single 'Found You'". yomzansi.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  12. "Berita hosts listening session ahead of releasing new album, Songs In The Key Of Love". Just Nje. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  13. Dayile, Qhama (31 July 2021). "Here's the full list of the SAMA winners | Drum". News24. South Africa.
  14. "Berita whets fans appetite with Amanda Black collab". chronicle.co.zw. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  15. "WATCH: Berita And Ndlovu Youth Choir Release Emotive Video For Anti GBV Song "Ungandibulali"". Zkhiphani. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  16. "Berita and Amanda Black celebrate black love with Siyathandana video". News24. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  17. "Live N ReYired with Berita on YFM". icekream.co.za. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  18. "Lake of Stars Festival 2018 – What to Expect". Kaya FM. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  19. "Zim Jacaranda Music Festival a hit". mukuru.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  20. "Jazz Festival signs off on a high note". iol.co.za. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  21. "JUST IN: Leveling up. . . Berita appointed RiSA board member". chronicle.co.zw. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  22. "2013 Metro FM Music Awards: The winners". news24.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  23. "Why Berita's a big deal". News24. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  24. "Berita wins Songwriter of the Year". chronicle.co.zw. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  25. "ICYMI: SA Zimbabwe Achievers 2016 Awards Full Nominees List". youthvillage.co.zw. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  26. "Berita wins Best Female at the Eastern Cape Music Awards". news24.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  27. "ZimAchievers Awards South Africa announces 2019 Nominees, partners". newzimbabwe.com. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  28. "JUST IN: ZIMA nominees out". herald.co.zw. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  29. "Samas 27: Nominations are out and men are leading the nods". The Citizen. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
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