Gugulethu Khumalo (born 27 June 1991), best known by her stage name Berita, is a Zimbabwean-born singer, songwriter and music producer. Her music is a combination of

soul music Soul music is a popular music genre that originated in the African American community throughout the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It has its roots in African-American gospel music and rhythm and blues. Soul music became po ...

containing elements from Afro Jazz,

contemporary pop Pop music is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the ...

influences as well as South African dance music. She is the owner of the independent record label Assali Music. She is also the founder of the Women of Music Business (WOMB), a pan African women empowerment organisation in the music industry.

Early life and education

Berita was born on the 27th of June 1991 in

Bulawayo Bulawayo (, ; Ndebele: ''Bulawayo'') is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and the largest city in the country's Matabeleland region. The city's population is disputed; the 2022 census listed it at 665,940, while the Bulawayo City Council cl ...

. She is the first born in a family of five. She spent a part of her childhood in Bulawayo and Zhombe where her parents were teachers at

Rio Tinto Rio Tinto, meaning "red river", may refer to: Businesses * Rio Tinto (corporation), an Anglo-Australian multinational mining and resources corporation ** Rio Tinto Alcan, based in Canada ** Rio Tinto Borax in America *** Rio Tinto Borax Mine, a ...

. She attended St Martin de Porres in

Zhombe Zhombe (also known as Jombe) is a rural communal area in Kwekwe District, Midlands Province, Zimbabwe. It is an area of mixed Shona and Northern Ndebele People. It lies along the Mnyathi border line between Midlands and Mashonaland Provinces ...

, Nketa Primary school and Greenfield Primary school in

. In 2007, she moved to

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

with her family in search of greener pastures due to the difficult economic and political climate in

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...

and later moved to

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

to pursue her tertiary education at

Walter Sisulu University Walter Sisulu University (WSU) is a university of technology and science located in Mthatha, East London (Buffalo City), Butterworth and Komani (Queenstown) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, which came into existence on 1 July 2005 as a result o ...

in the

Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...

Career

In 2012, she released her debut album titled ''Conquering Spirit'', which peaked at #1 on

iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...

and earned her Gold Status on

RISA Risa may refer to: * Risa (given name), a feminine given name * Risa (Star Trek), a fictional planet * Radioiodinated serum albumin * Recording Industry of South Africa * Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer analysis See also * * * Rise (disambiguation) ...

and won the Best African Pop Album award at the 2013

Metro FM Awards The 15th installment of the annual Metro FM Music Awards is an award ceremony that celebrates excellence in the South African music industry by honouring musicians who did exceedingly well in their field throughout 2015. The show first aired on SAB ...

. In 2014, she collaborated with legendary singers

Hugh Masekela Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (4 April 1939 – 23 January 2018) was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for ...

and

Oliver Mtukudzi Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi (22 September 1952 – 23 January 2019) was a Zimbabwean musician, businessman, philanthropist, human rights activist and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Southern Africa Region. Career Mtukudzi grew up in Highfield, a ...

on the single, "Mwana Wa Mai". That following year she collaborated with Black Motion on the "Mwana Wa Mai" remix. In 2016, she participated in Coke Studio which resulted in the release of the single, "Vusu Yeke" which she collaborated with rapper, Yanga Chief. Her single "Ezizweni" peaked #1 on

Metro FM Metro FM is a national radio station in South Africa owned by the South African Broadcasting Corporation. The station broadcasts on FM Stereo as well as the DStv Bouquet Channel 801. Telephone : History The station started broadcasting in O ...

’s Top 40 chart and

Ukhozi FM Ukhozi FM is a South African national radio station & owned by SABC, based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal that caters to the needs of the Zulu-speaking community. Founded in 1960, it is the largest radio station in South Africa and Africa (by listen ...

’s Top 20 chart And her debut single titled "Ndicel'ikiss" peaked #21 on the radio monitor RAMS charts, recorded under her independent label ASSALI Music. She collaborated with Mobi Dixon on her single "Ezizweni" and Da Capo on "Found You". In February 2020, she released her fourth studio album, '' Songs in the Key of Love''. At the 27th annual South African Music Awards, the album received an award for the Rest of Africa Award. The album's leading single "Jikizinto" peaked #1 on the Radio Monitor charts, making her the first female solo independent artist to peak #1 in the new decade. Her previous music release "Ungandibulali" peaked #1 spending 3 weeks at the top on the Radio Monitor Charts, the single featured Ndlovu Youth Choir and was the theme song during the 2020s 16 Days of activism period as part of

SABC The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is the public broadcaster in South Africa, and provides 19 radio stations ( AM/ FM) as well as six television broadcasts to the general public. It is one of the largest of South Africa's state ...

's 'Do Not Turn A Blind Eye' campaign against GBV. She also collaborated with

Amanda Black Amanda Benedicta Antony (born 24 July 1993), known professionally as Amanda Black, is a South African singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Gcuwa her career began in 1999 at the age of 6 singing in church choirs. Amanda was a contestant ...

on the single, "Siyathandana". In fashion, she has collaborated with local South African designers such as Athenkosi Mgundlwa, KISUA and Rich Factory. She has performed at music festivals such as the Bayimba International Festival in

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territor ...

, Lake of Stars Festival, Jakaranda Music Festival in

and the Cape Town Jazz Festival as part of

’s tribute concert. On 27 May 2021, she was appointed as one of the board members for the

Recording Industry of South Africa Recording Industry of South Africa (RISA) is a trade association representing the interests of major and independent record labels of South Africa. Located in Randburg, RISA is responsible for running the annual South African Music Awards (SAMA ...

(RISA).

Discography

*''Conquering Spirit'' (2012) *''Songs of Empowerment'' (2014) *''Berita'' (2017) *'' Songs in the Key of Love'' (2020)

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* {{official website, www.beritaafrosoul.co.za Living people 1991 births Zimbabwean musicians People from Bulawayo 21st-century guitarists Zimbabwean guitarists 21st-century Zimbabwean women singers 21st-century women guitarists