At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mdantsane-born gospel artist, Sonwabo ‘Soso’ Maholwana, spent 10 days in a coma due to the virus, and had given up on his life.
After a miraculous recovery and a second chance on life, he put pen to paper and wrote a worship song to thank God for giving him a second chance at life.
The song, titled Bayede, a collaborative single with well-known gospel artist Dumi Mkokstad, has earned Maholwana two nominations at this year’s annual Crown Gospel Music Awards.
He is nominated in the Best Newcomer and Best Worship Song categories.
Maholwana often performs his inspirational song in hospitals, clinics, taxi ranks, churches and anywhere he can tell people his story of hope and victory.
“Many people had lost hope and lost the meaning of why they are on this earth, and this song is a reminder that we deserve to live a beautiful and fulfilling life, that there is hope and victory at the end, and we have to believe in some sort of hope in order to wake up every day and face our worst nightmares,” he added.
Maholwana is currently working on a full album which he hopes to release by June next year.
He also plans to tour the African continent, and later America, where he is already engaging with gospel musicians in the USA who have invited him to come and share his story and song of victory, to inspire others across the globe.
“Every day when you wake up, be grateful that you have another day to give praise and give hope to someone else and even to yourself. Once you have reached that level of belief, even death will not overcome you with fear or pain,” Maholwana concluded.
The 16th annual Crown Gospel Music Awards take place at FNB Stadium in Gauteng on November 26.
