Morné Lotter (22) is possibly the first white man who is a Xitsonga musician. His stage name of ‘Mulungu hi nyama’, translates to ‘white man in flesh’. Lotter has won the hearts of Xitsonga music lovers with the singles ‘cina’ and ‘mulungu hi nyama’. Lotter says he grew up as a fan of hiphop and Eminem’s music. His taste in music changed when he moved to Elim where he fell in love with xigaza music.

He not only sings in the vernacular, but also dances with the xibelana, the traditional dance skirt. “I had the pleasure to meet the great Xitsonga musician, DJ Mufudhisi, and I asked him to mentor me. “He was very selfless and taught me the tricks of xigaza,” says Lotter. “I also met Maponyana, who is a great dancer. He taught me to dance the xibelana.

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The two have become my brothers.” Maponyana told the Herald that he hopes the Xitsonga music community will embrace Mulungu. “Let’s support Mlungu, he is one of our own,” Maponyana says. Mulungu told the Herald that he is inspired by Benny Mayengana, Dj Mufhudhisi and Maponyana. During the week when he is not performing, he works as a handyman doing tiling and painting.

He says his family, who is originally from Pretoria, is very supportive of his music career. Follow ‘Mulungu hi nyama’ on TikTok and Facebook.