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Wacha Mkhukhu Wachumlilo during a perfomance.
Legendary ZCC gospel group, Wacha Mkhukhu Wachumlilo, may not be dropping the mic after all. This after what they had envisaged to be their final gospel festival that took place under wet conditions at the Mzansi Resorts (formerly Morula Sun) in Mabopane on Saturday.
The event, which marked the group’s 20-year celebration, followed the released of the release of an album this year labeled ‘The Final Album’ – widely regarded as their best offering in their 20 years of existence.
However, following a very intimate and very spiritually-charged event featuring some of the industry’s legends including Simon Makgatholela, Paul K Kganyago, Masole A Tumelo and Mapula Monyepao, among others, the group says hanging the mic may no longer be the case.
“Well, since we announced that we had released our final album, a lot of people have complained that we must rethink that decision. A lot of them approached us in person on Saturday as we celebrated the 20 years and made their case about why this group must continue,” says one the group’s managers, Neo Kodi, who is also the son of one of the founders of the group, the late Charles Nkosana Kodi.
“So, it is a matter we are seized with at the moment, considering that we had our reasons for retiring the brand in the first place and so, we are trying to see if there is a way we can keep this fire burning,” he adds.
Founded in 2005 by the two late ZCC gospel music legends, Nkosana Kodi and Lucas ‘Mojeremane’ Xale, the group marked two decades of mokhukhu music production that has seen the group produce hits like Modimo Wa Bo Engenas and earn three South African Music Awards nominations in the process.
“We value our supporters’ inputs who, we regard as family … we call them the Mlilo Nation, and also since we are using this brand to groom young boys and nurture them through life to create responsible young adults, we are aware that it would a huge travesty to let them go back into the streets without something like this keeping them busy. So, we are indeed looking into and hoping we can find a way to keep this group alive,” says Oupa Makgabeng, member and manager of the group.
The Modimo Wa Bo Engenas hitmakers currently have their eyes on the SAMA award having been nominated for the third time into the Best African Indigenous Faith Album category, as well as for the Thobela FM’s Best Sepedi Group category.
“It would really be nice to cap this year with an award or two, and maybe we can then talk a possible Wachumlilo Day of Prayer 2026,” adds Makgabeng.
