AFRO-SOUL songstress Siphokazi Mohapi (previously Maraqana) is making a comeback after taking a break from music for six years. The Amacala hit maker took this break to focus on her family and to raise her two sons. The music star got married in 2011 to a banker, Hlalele Mohapi.
MOTHERHOOD
Siphokazi says that being a new mother has been a great experience. “During my break, I have learnt a lot about motherhood and being a wife. Being a mother has been wonderful; it has given me a lot of lessons,” she says. Siphokazi says even though being a mother and a wife is a full-time job, she will still be able to juggle family life and being a solo artist. The Lusikisiki-born singer from the Eastern Cape encourages young mothers to do the best they can in making sure their families are well looked after. “Being a mother is a calling. People should not give up because their children are still young, especially with all the sleepless nights from new-borns,” she says. “New moms should learn to adjust and trust in the Lord, as there’s nothing that God allows in our lives for no good reason. We must always find hope in any situation.”
A WELL-DESERVED BREAK
The SAMA award-winning singer does not regret her decision of taking time off from music. “The break I took was a very positive one. I have grown and I’m matured enough to write music that will heal more people and help me become a better person,” says the Metro FM award-winning Afro-soul singer. Commenting on the state of musicians in Mzansi, the artist says that what she has learnt about the music industry is that, “It is good to be consistent with your work because if you are not, it can be a big challenge.” She goes on to say, “The 90 percent local music quota set by the SABC is also a very good move. The broadcaster did a good job by allowing our home-grown music to receive airplay every day.”
HER NEW SINGLE
She’s back with a new single titled Ithemba. Siphokazi says her fans must expect messages of love, hope, peace and healing for broken souls. She says the inspiration behind her new single is the book of Romans 15:13, which reads, “May the God of hope give you all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”. She adds, “We are faced with many issues, including race intolerance, poverty, abuse of women and children, problems in our education system and heavy drought. Therefore, we need to have hope to overcome such situations.”
