Youngster with the voice of an angel
Sixteen-year-old Simphiwe Hopewell Hlatshwayo has a voice that definitely needs to be heard. Simphiwe is from Mashishing and is currently a grade 10 learner at Skhila Secondary School.
He is a multi-talented singer in choral music, tenor, alto, rap, rhythm and blues. He started singing a young age since he grew up in a family where everyone seemed obsessed with gospel music.
“I grew up singing for Batsumi Ba Lentswe, a local community gospel choir in Mashishing. It was here where I fell in love with this genre. This also inspired me to take singing lessons at school,” he said.
Simphiwe said he is a God-fearing young man who believes that if you trust in God, anything is possible. “I am a member of African Emmanuel Apostolic Church. What I have learned in church and in music is that you can be a trainer and a teacher. Music can take you places only if you take it seriously.
“I want to see myself growing in the industry, meeting celebrities like Lebo Sekgobela. My dream is to get a chance to participate in Idols but my mother requires me to finish school first,” he added.
Speaking to his mother, Zanele Sikhosana, she said Simphiwe is a very humble child. “He loves church and singing. I can say he takes after me because I started singing at the age of 12 and he started singing at the age of 11. explained Sikhosana.
“We are very happy and supportive of his music career. We wish him luck and success to prosper in life, but education comes first. We would love for him to take part in Idols to pursue his dream, but he has to complete matric first.”
He was the winner in the Bohlabela Sub-district music competition that was held at Kellysville Primary on April 26, in the opera open section tenor solo category. Simphiwe and Gezile Malinga will participate at the district competition to be held at Acorn Oaks High School in Acornhoek outside Bushbuckridge this Saturday May 25.
All schools in the Bohlabela district will partake in this music competition.
