She is happier than she has been in a long time.
The past two years have not been easy for singer and songwriter Bulelwa “Zahara” Mkutukana.
In 2021, she lost her sister Nomonde, who died in an accident on the N2 in East London. Nomonde was driving back from work when the incident happened on the evening on 5 March.
She was run over by a taxi on the side of the N2 while checking a fault on her vehicle.
Earlier this year, Zahara's home was broken into, and she lost some of her trophies from the South African Music Awards.
Soon after that, the sheriff was gunning for her home after she missed payments on her bond.
Reports resurfaced that the singer had defaulted on her monthly installments of her townhouse at Little Falls and her house was up for auction. It took some donations, and many bookings to save her home.
Read more l Kamo, Kagiso, and Coachella Randy get real with YouTube reality show, Birth of Stars
But after all the series of bad events, things are looking up for the Imali singer. Zahara tells Drum that she is happier than she has been in a long time.
“I feel so renewed,” she says.
“I am in a good space. I’ve cut a lot of toxic energies and people who are not good for me.”
Zahara says there were people bringing her down in her life and she has had to cut them out.
“There were people who are constantly taking and taking. Right now, I am in a good place, and I am focusing on myself and my happiness,” she adds.
She is also grateful for all the people who helped to save her home.
“I am grateful to everyone who prayed for me and who contributed towards me saving my home,” she says.
“I know some people wanted to help but did not have the money, but they prayed for me. Even those who do not like me, some put me in their prayers. Their families prayed for me. I even had children wishing me well.”
Read more l PICS: Mohale shows pictures of his bruised face and damaged car
Since she paid off the house, she has been able to think straight and address issues she had swept under the carpet.
“This is the first time I have been able to talk about my sister’s death,” she says.
“I have been in denial about her death for a very long time. For so long,” she says.
“Before, I could speak about my late sister’s death. I would be cold when her name came up because I was in denial and still am in a way. Even at her funeral, I did not stay long. I went to the doctor, and he gave me something to numb me. I didn’t cry and for the first time I was able to cry for my sister and talk about her,” she says.
“I guess I am getting closer to healing”.
Things are also coming together on the work front.
“I have been working hard and making sure I don’t make the same mistakes I have made in the past. I am getting more bookings and working on planning better for my future and finances,” she says.
Zahara is also currently planning an upcoming reality show where cameras go into her home.
“We are in the final planning stages of the reality show and we will start shooting next week,” she says.
“I have had many people approach me for a reality show and I believe it's time I tell my story, my way and I let people into my home and into my life.”
She says there have been many misconceptions about her life in the past and she wants to “let people in”.
“People think they know me, but they don’t really know me. I want to show people my spiritual side, my family, my close friend, and who I am dating. I know people love Zahara and I want even the mama in the village who I have healed through my music to see how I live and how I think. It will be unscripted and show who I truly am. I am all about inspiring people and healing,” she adds.
