South Africa’s culture minister, Zizi Kodwa, has announced the passing of award-winning Afro-pop artist Bulelwa Mkutukana, better known as Zahara.
According to Kodwa, she has been in and out of the hospital due to liver complications, and the South African government has been assisting the family for some time.
In 2011, the singer became well-known thanks to her widely acclaimed album, Loliwe.
Zahara spoke up about her struggle with alcoholism in 2019.
The musician’s family announced last month that she had been admitted to the hospital and urged South Africans to pray for her.
She passed away on Monday night in a Johannesburg hospital at the age of 36, the public broadcaster SABC reported.
“She was a pure light and an even purer heart in this world. A beacon of hope, a gift, and a blessing to us and countless people around the world.” Zahara’s family posted on her Instagram account.
