She has yet to release her debut album, but budding Eastern Cape afro pop songstress Siyavuya Mcetywa is already in contention to win a prestigious award for her music talents.
The third-year Walter Sisulu University office management and technology student, 23, who goes by the stage name of Qhawekazi, has been nominated for the Live Your Dream SA awards to be held in KwaZulu-Natal next month.
Born in Viedgesville near Mthatha, Mcetywa has already shared the stage with some of South Africa’s legendary pop crooners like Nathi Mankayi, Vusi Nova, Zahara, Mafikizolo and Port St Johns-born Csana.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch, the muso said she had been nominated in the Best Upcoming category.
“I am blessed,” she said. “I never thought I would ever be nominated for a music award in my life. In Mthatha, we don’t get many chances.”
She said she had submitted her work to the organisers after hearing about the awards earlier this year from a friend.
She was asked to provide her profile and her work which impressed the organisers.
The awards are aimed at recognising and uplifting rising young South African stars in various arts platforms including music, radio, television, dance and modelling.
Qhawekazi has released a single called Ndimthandile, a love song, just last month.
To test the waters, she and her team uploaded it onto Facebook. “The demand for the song from those who heard it has been phenomenal to say the least,” she said, adding that they planned to create a link where people can go to YouTube to view and download the song. As for her future goals, she hopes a record company will help her record her first album, although for now her school schedule is keeping her busy.
After her first album Qhawekazi has plans to establish her own recording studio right in the heart of Mthatha so that other emerging musicians don’t have to leave for Johannesburg to try and secure a recording deal...