By Emmanuel Mwendwa
Praise and worship music enthusiasts are preparing for a rare treat — the maiden performance in Nairobi by prominent South African gospel music diva Deborah Fraser.
Though her name may not easily ring a bell, Fraser is ranked among creme de la creme of gospel music. Her contemporaries include Rebecca Malope, Faith Kekana, Stella Khumalo and Mandisa Dlanga.
Deborah Fraser has three award winning albums, with one boasting a Kiswahili track |
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She will be the main attraction in the concert featuring top Kenyan gospel musicians Jemimah Thiong’o, Eunice Njeri, Rufftone, Isaac Kavehere, Nairobi-based Malawian singer Chrissie Kamthunzi and The Thapelo (G-Stormers) dancers.
Spread the gospel
Talking to The Standard on Saturday, Chrissie described Fraser as an inspirational singer, motivated by the need to spread the gospel. "I met her in Johannesburg early this year and she expressed desire to visit Nairobi to share her uplifting songs with Kenyan Christians. She especially loves singing in different languages," says Chrissie.
Incidentally, Fraser’s latest 14-song album Umsamariya (Zulu for Good Samaritan) features a Kiswahili composition, Yeye Yu Nawe. Other titles in the album include Oh Ndodana, Umoya Wam, Vuma, Yara Gbadura, Mayibenglwele, Yebo Yu Nawe, Ngizongoba, Bonangoba, We Jona, Ngibe Muhle Nam, Bengithi Ngizo Bekeleza, Abefundisi Aba Wrongo and Lala Ngoxolo Mama Wami.
Chrissie points out that although Fraser sings mainly in Xhosa and Zulu, her latest CD also has Nigerian lyrics. "She is a multi-talented singer and composer, driven by a strong passion to reach out to different people in all parts of the world," she notes.
Fraser or ‘Debs’, as she is popularly known in music circles, has previously worked with respected US stars Quincy Jones, Bebe Wynans and John Secada.
She started as a back-up vocalist for accomplished South Africa’s artistes, among them Cindy Lauper, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Rebecca Malope, late Lucky Dube, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and even Congolese star Kanda Bongo Man.
She also sang with fallen South African pop diva Brenda Fassie and Peter Mokoena in their double platinum album, Sello, produced by Chicco Twala.
During the apartheid era, Fraser was among back up vocalists whose services were in demand. She launched her professional career in the late 1980s after an encounter with respected composer, singer and gospel producer Mthunzi Namba. She later teamed up with contemporaries Mandisa Dlanga, Stella Khumalo and Faith Kekana. The quartet was in the early 1990s invited to tour the world with previously exiled South African stars Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Letta Mbulu and Caiphus Semenya.
Despite the fame and attendant financial rewards, Fraser is modest about her achievements: ‘’People make me a superstar and treat me that way. But I’m not a superstar. I just regard myself as an ordinary God-fearing person.’’
Her debut album Abanye Bayombona, turned multi-platinum within a year of release.
Rave reviews
Her second album Udlalile Ngabantu, earned the diva rave reviews in the media. So popular and captivating were her songs that Universal Music label snapped up distribution rights of her international album Born Again — a compilation of songs culled from her first two albums.
"The overseas release of Born Again means a lot to me. It shows that my talent is respected, even by people I’ve never worked with," she said in a past interview. One of her uplifting songs is Masimbonge (Let’s Praise Him) and is dedicated to her son Nkosana, who reportedly nearly drowned in a pool while she paid a call on her doctor.
Equally popular is the track Mama Wam, dedicated to her mother Catherine Tshabalala-Fraser.
