Somizi Mhlongo. Picture Instagram
Sunday World has reported that well-known gospel singers Dr Tumi and Lebo Sekgobela pulled out of singing at a consecration show for a church in North West shortly after Somizi Mhlongo was announced as a guest preacher.
Dr Tumi was reportedly scheduled to perform on June 30 at the church in Brits, but he withdrew after a publicity poster featuring Somizi was published. Sekgobela then followed suit. Both stars publicised their withdrawals on social media, though they did not say it was specifically to avoid being on the same bill with the flamboyantly gay Somizi.
However, many fans on social media heaped praise on the gospel singers for what they perceived as a reluctance to appear with the man known to his fans as Somgaga and who was recently roasted on Comedy Central.
Sekgobela’s husband later claimed his wife had been booked too “close” to another event at Sun City and had to pull out for contractual reasons. He denied that she wasn’t keen to share a stage with a gay man and Somizi’s manager confirmed they had accepted Lebo’s reason and still considered her a good friend.
However, no one was able to obtain comment from Dr Tumi.
Somizi made headlines last year when he stormed out of the Grace Bible Church in Soweto over a sermon he found offensive.
He alleged a pastor had spoken about homosexuality, claiming it was so “disgusting” and “sinful” that even animals did not “practise” it – remarks Somizi claimed the congregants cheered.
Zoologists, however, later pointed out that homosexuality has actually often been observed among several animal species.
Many Christians believe that the Bible outlaws homosexuality, though other scholars point out that the passage in Leviticus relates primarily to behaviour expected of Jewish priests.