Zolani Mahola can now add award-winning lead actress to her already impressive resumè of artistic achievements. She was honoured last night at the 55th Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards with the Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a musical or music theatre show accolade for her one-woman show, The One Who Sings.
The show debuted at Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre last year and received rave reviews, with many describing it as a raw and honest autobiographical story of hope and resilience. Capetownetc said of the piece,” Along with captivating and lively storytelling, Zolani manages to interweave her original new music with some of her most well-known songs. This takes the audience on an intimate journey through the eyes of a young girl growing up in a divided South Africa during the 80s, opening up for the first time about her struggles in a country which itself is grappling with its own wounds and sense of identity”.
Mahola and six other musicians formed Freshlyground in Cape Town back in 2002. Nine years and many hit songs later, she officially announced the launch of her solo career as a musician, storyteller and transformational speaker - it looks like it has been a great move for her.
In closing, a quick trip to her official website reveals that Mohale is still as humble as ever and using this time of self-isolation to hopefully collaborate with artists “across all borders”. She also invites us to tune into live sessions on her Facebook page where she plays music and “interviews changemakers and creatives from all around the world.”
Mahola is living proof that it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. Congratulations to our homegrown superstar!
While the Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards are usually a grand red carpet affair, the event was forced to go online due to the current lockdown rules and regulations. For a complete list of the other Fleur Du Cap winners click on the link below :
