It has been 10 months since singer and songwriter Bulelwa "Zahara' Mkutukana passed away. This year, on 9 November, she would have turned 37 years old. Her upcoming birthday has caused some tension among her family and friends, who are hosting two different events in Johannesburg and East London on the same day. To honour her life and legacy, close friends have put their heads together to host a tribute birthday celebration for the late star in Johannesburg while her family and some other friends plan to throw an event in her hometown of East London.

IF THEY REALLY CARED

But Zahara's mom, Nokhaya Mkutukana, has come forward to say if her friends really care about her like they claim, they would host it in her home town. "If the army were that close to her, they would make it to East London. We can't have two separate events." she said.

In Johannesburg, on the same day, 9 November, the "Zahara Army,' who is her fanbase, a group of youth who lived and worked close to her, will be hosting a celebration at the Decalabash Hotel in Randfontein. Lisa Gwengxeka, who was the Loliwe singer's assistant, confidant and member of the Zahara Army, said she has spent the last few months mourning her friend and now it is time to celebrate her life. 'I lived with her, woke up next to her every day. I was there through everything. She was my sister and after mourning, I want us to celebrate her life,' Lisa told ZiMoja. 

She said that the 'Zahara Army' wanted to do something special for her birthday. "We are not planning to coin-it using her name. We miss her dearly and just want to honour her the best way we know how," she said.

SEPARATE EVENTS

Lisa said she and other Zahara Army members won't be able to attend. "She loved celebrating her birthday and every year, we got together to celebrate, and we will do that in true Zahara style. But not everyone will have the financial capacity to get to East London. So, we are planning something intimate for her in Joburg. I have communicated this with her family."

Zahara passed away at a Johannesburg hospital from liver complications in December last year. She died after spending weeks in ICU and was buried on 23 December.