adminBongani Ndlovu, Showbiz Correspondent
SOUTH Africa’s disco queen Patricia Majalisa says she is not retiring anytime soon as she intends to die on stage like jazz legend Miriam Makeba who died after suffering a heart attack in 2008 at a concert in Italy.
Majalisa who is expected in Zimbabwe next week for a show in Bulawayo yesterday said music and entertaining fans was part of her life.
South African media had earlier reported that Majalisa – Dan Tshanda’s former wife – was planning to retire after she revealed plans to recruit female singers to join her stable.
“I’m not retiring. Miriam Makeba died on stage and that’s the way I want to end my career. I’ll sing until I’m on a wheelchair, if need be. People have been saying I’m retiring because they heard I want to recruit girls to join my stable. They think I want one of them to take over, this is not true,” said Majalisa who has been in the music industry for the past 30 years.
She said the recruitment exercise of new lead singers from different countries other than South Africa was a bid to revamp her Majalisa Entertainment group.
“Fans in Namibia, Botswana and especially Zimbabwe have been very supportive of my music. So as a way to thank them, I’ll be recruiting female artistes from these three countries. I’ve already identified one from Zimbabwe.”
“I’m looking for people who’re between 20 and 25 years and know a lot about my music.”
Speaking highly of Zimbabwe, Majalisa said she was excited to be performing at the Bulawayo Amphitheatre on November 28 after a two-year hiatus.
The Akulalwa Ziyawa hit-maker will be accompanied by Mpendulo, Silindile, Neo Mapaka, Vuyelwa, Nickie and Ludwe Maki, all from the Majalisa Entertainment stable. They will be backed by Zimbabwe’s Khuxxman and Gregory.
With tickets to the show pegged at $10, Majalisa advised local fans to make their way to the venue early to avoid disappointment.
“The last time I was there we’d problems of congestion at the gate as so many people flocked the venue. This time we’ll start performing earlier, at about 7PM so that fans also go home early,” she said.
Majalisa is expected to jet in on Sunday to spend a week in the country, meeting and interacting with fans, as well as preparing for the concert.
Turning to her career, the artiste who has 17 albums to her name said she was working on her 18th album which she expects to release next year February. It will be a mixture of disco and mbaqanga music.
Online Reporter