Challenges in the music industry shape Fumene Ntshokolo
ALEXANDRA– Gospel musician from Tsutsumani will release his second album later this year.
Nothing seems able to stop this 41-year-old gospel singer.
Fumene Ntshokolo was born in Mbizana in the Eastern Cape and now lives in Tsutsumani. He has revealed that he will release his long-awaited second album later this year.
Ntshokolo, who was a mine worker in North West Province, left his job and came to Johannesburg in early 2008 to pursue his calling to spread the gospel.
He said his journey has been bumpy and thorny for the past decade after he faced many challenges in the music industry. “Just before I released my first album uJesu Unamandla (Jesus has power) in 2010 I lost two members of my group after we were shot at on our way back from the studio. We were attacked by an armed gang who shot and robbed us of everything we had. Two of my group members died on the scene.”
Ntshokolo, who has a diploma in leadership studies from Berea College, said he only managed to overcome all the trauma through his faith and God.
“The problems I faced in the music industry shaped me to become the strong person I am today. I managed to overcome the trauma of witnessing the death of my friends and my eyes were opened to the complex dynamics of the music industry,” he said
Ntshokolo’s uJesu Unamandla sold more than 5 000 copies on the streets, at promotions and at different events when he performed.
In December this year, Ntshokolo will release his second album with 18 tracks, which will only be available on CD after he cancelled his online agreement with the company that was selling his music online.
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