While most people her age think about retirement and life after it, Busi Pikini is on an upward career trajectory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At 58 years old, Pikini, popularly known as Velabavuye, released her debut album last month. She officially launched the six-track traditional music album Lonakele Ilizwe<\/em> at Embengweni in Town Two on Saturday 6 May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velabavuye described the occasion as a dream come true for her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The traditional singer, who is also a songwriter and poet, described her journey to success as bumpy and painful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She said she sacrificed a lot to be where she is currently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI grew up in a conservative family in Tsolo in the Eastern Cape. As children, we were taught about respect and ubuntu<\/em>. I grew up with that in me, and I became a poet at an early young age and grew up performing in traditional ceremonies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velabavuye said in 2019 she co-founded a traditional group called Ekhaya KwaNtu in Town Two. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI performed in various areas of the country as a poet,\u201d she said. \u201cIn 2018 I performed in front of President Cyril Ramaphosa at Paarl Rugby Stadium during an African National Congress Women\u2019s League event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlso the same year I welcomed our Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi at Mthatha Airport. But as a group we used to perform at local and traditional events.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Velabavuye said she released a music video called Nanga Amabomvana in 2021<\/span><\/em>, which aimed at educating people about the Covid-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy music accommodates everyone, especially the youth,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m talking about social ills such as teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, chronic diseases, crime, and so on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI encourage people to go back to their roots,\u201d said Velabavuye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She advises young artists to focus and persevere if they wish to be successful in life. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While most people her age think about retirement and life after it, Busi Pikini is on an upward career 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