Tirhani Mabasa releases Ben 10

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     Music

The 44-year-old weather anchor at SABC TV, Tirhani Abigail Mabasa, added a proud achievement to her curriculum vitae when she recorded and released an anthemic makhwaya song, Ben 10.

Mabasa is a mother of one, born in a family of five, with three sisters and a brother. "My father died when I was less than a year old, so my mother raised us singlehandedly. It is sad that my mother  passed on in 2013 before she could see me realise my dream – that of singing,” she said. Her song, Manana, is a tribute to her mother. "She was a strong woman who wanted to see all her children educated. She always encouraged us to study."

According to Mabasa, the support she gets from my family is amazing. "My son, Nkateko, was with me in the studio when I recorded Ben 10. He is also into hip hop, but I told him to focus on his studies, then we can relook at taking him to the studio."

She added that she started singing in church. “Growing up in a village, I would see people walk around with a radio hanging from their shoulders while riding bicycles, playing it at full blast. That got me interested in music.” She said she was highly inspired by HW Makhubele, Dr Thoma Chauke (Xinyori), and Khatisa Chavalala. “I would sing along with their songs while I was growing up,” she said. “Then I later came to know Cesaria Evora, who started her musical journey after 40, just like I did.”

She said that she wanted to see herself as an active singer for many years to come. “I want to work hard. I wish to see myself entertaining the world on a world stage. It was while studying for an MBA that I realised that South Africa is full of possibilities.”

According to her, she will release a full-length album soon. “I sing about relationships, friendships and things that are happening on a daily basis. As a Christian, I had to do one gospel track with makhwaya mix to it.”

She said that Ben 10  was about the realities of this world. She said there were young men who were in relationships with older women. “I believe as an artist that I am a social ambassador – so I bring those issues out there for people to talk about openly,” she said. “I am so excited about the whole project.”

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By: Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.