KALAWA Chikita Busiswa Gqulu burst into the music scene in 2012 on DJ Zinhle’s song My Name Is. Her star has not stopped rising since, and she has captivated audiences across various stages with her popular singles even though she is yet to release a full album.
WORKING ON A DEBUT ALBUM
The Mthatha-born poet and singer says fans can expect a full album soon. “I’m trying to finish my debut album, called Highly Favoured. It’s basically dance music with some soulful sounds to it,” she excitedly shares. Busiswa says she named the album Highly Flavoured because she feels very blessed.
FOLLOWING HER HEART
When times were tough, her faith was a pillar of strength. When her family moved from Mthatha to Durban because of her parents’ work, she had to adapt to a new environment. But even before she could finish high school there, the family decided to go back to Mthatha. But Busiswa had different plans and didn’t move back with them. “I didn’t want to go back to Mthatha because I was doing well at school. So when they left I had to find a boarding place,” she says. She adds that even though she did not have a place of her own, she did not have to live on the streets. “I didn’t sleep on the street. I moved from one friend to another,” she explains.
HOW SHE WAS DISCOVERED
The Gobis' iqolo singer says she can’t recall a time when she wanted to be anything else but an entertainer. Right after high school, she was busy performing her poems while trying to find a job to sustain her. “My parents were supportive of my career choice because there was no money to take me to university,” she says. However, she was lucky to find a job at an art centre where she worked with school children educating them about the arts. Even though she had a job, she still wanted to be a musician, and continued working hard to get her showbiz break. When it finally happened, it was with one of the biggest names in the industry. “I had done a track with some guys in Durban. Oskido heard the track and I got a call to do a song with DJ Zinhle.” The song was My Name Is.
LOVING THE SPOTLIGHT
Busiswa enjoys the attention from her fans, and confesses that, “it's nice being famous. People love you for no reason other than entertaining them at shows. This is what makes fans like me even though they don't know me personally.”
