Khaya Mthethwa

Khaya Mthethwa (born 25 November 1987) is a South African singer-songwriter, musician, composer, arranger, and the multi-instrumentalist.[1]

Khaya Mthethwa
Born
Khayelihle Nkosinathi Mthethwa

(1987-11-25) 25 November 1987
Other namesThe PK
Spouse(s)
Ntandoyenkosi Kunene
​
​
(m. 2017; div. 2019)​
Musical career
OriginUmlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Genres
Occupation(s)
Years active2012–present
LabelsUniversal Music Group (former)
Associated actsJoyous Celebration
Israel Houghton

He is best known for winning the 8th season of TV singing competition Idols South Africa, the first black person to have done so.[2] He is also known as a choir member of the gospel group Joyous Celebration , popular both in South Africa across Africa.[3]

His passion for music stems from his strong upbringing and the guidance that he received from his religious parents, pastors’ Themba and Lulu Mthethwa.[4]

Early life

Born and raised in Durban Kwa-Zulu Natal, Khaya Mthethwa grew up in a church environment. His father Bhekithemba Mthethwa is a minister at the Umlazi Oasis Fellowship Centre. After finishing high school Khaya wanted to pursue a career in music but his parents were not keen on the idea and so he went on to study project management at the varsity college but remained active in a church as a music director of the church choir.

Career

In 2012 Khaya appeared on Ntokozo Mbambo's Filled album, again as a backing vocalist. In 2012, he entered Idols South Africa with the intention of trying out a different genre to enhance his music abilities.[5] He went on to win the competition.[6] he won with over 80% of the public votes. In 2013, he participated in another TV competition, The Clash of the Choirs, this time as part of the Kwa-Zulu Natal choir; the group won.[7][8] Khaya can sing gospel, pop, jazz and R&B, and he is a self-taught musician who can play a keyboard, guitar, drums and percussion. He is also a songwriter, and wrote most of the songs in his debut album, For You.

Khaya Mthethwa is a host of Gospel Alive a Gospel TV show that premiered 3 November 2013 on Multichoice DSTV's Mzansi magic channel, on which he worked with content producer Tebogo Rameetse. In 2015 he was ordained as a pastor. In 2014 he released a live DVD recording titled The Uprising.[9] in 2016 he released The Dawn, and in 2018 he released Mkhulumsebenzi.

Career: early 2010s

Khaya discovered his career in singing when he was in high school. Khaya Mthethwa first appeared as a backing vocalist singing Tenor for Joyous Celebration co-founder Mthunzi Namba's Mercy album. He was then asked to join Joyous Celebration two days prior to the live recording of Joyous Celebration 15 in 2010.[10]

Television

In late 2013 he began hosting the Mzansi Magic religious music talk show Gospel Alive. On 21 May 2017 he started hosting the BET gospel show Rhythm and Gospel and on 25 June 2017 he debuted as the host of SABC1's Sunday morning gospel show Gospel Avenue.[11]

Show Character

Clash of the Choirs South Africa – Season 1 Choirmaster – KwaZulu-Natal

Code Green – Season 1 Himself

Cooking Gospel – Season 1 Himself

Gospel Alive – Season 1 Host- Himself

I Love South Africa – Season 1 Contestant – Himself

Idols – Season 8 Winner – Himself

Minnie Dlamini: Becoming Mrs. Jones – Season 1 musician-Himself

The Remix SA – Season 1 Guest judge- Himself

Zaziwa – Season 4 Himself

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Results Ref.
2016 SCGA Best Gospel DVD Won
12th AMFA Best Newcomer award Won [4]
2017 23th SAMA Live Audio Visual Recording Album Nominated
SAMA Best Contemporary Faith Music Album Won

Discography

Albums
  • For You (Universal Music Group, 2012)
  • The Uprising (Universal Music Group, 2014)
  • The Dawn 2016
  • All About Jesus 2018

Personal life

2 December 2017 in Mpumalanga Khaya Mthethwa celebrated his traditional wedding with the love of his life and Miss South Africa 2016, Ntandoyenkosi Kunene.[12] Khaya Mthethwa and his wife Ntandoyenkosi only dated for three months, but he didn't want to waste time because he knew she was the one. As much as Khaya wasn't planning on getting married but when Ntando came along, he couldn't imagine his life without her.[13] Khaya explains his wife as a person who is an incredible human being, a person with a strong character and who comes from a phenomenal family. "Everything about her culminates into this beautiful person that I want to spend the rest of my life with." khaya said.[13]"As a husband my top job is to protect my wife. We just want to have an amazing marriage," Khaya said.[14] They gym together and support Orlando Pirates. Everything is "very serene", he adds. "We cherry-pick each other every day." His love life has had its fair share of ups and downs, of course. He was romantically linked to actress Nomzamo Mbatha in 2015, then to her fellow Isibaya actress Jessica Nkosi. Khaya was often cited as the reason the two are no longer friendly but he doesn't want to be drawn into all that.

On 24 December 2019, they announced their divorce on social media platforms. The reason for their split remains concealed but Khaya did mention in one of his church sermons that the two years of their marriage were difficult and presented many challenges.[11]

References
  1. "Khaya Mthethwa and his dad". Drum.co.za. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Khaya Mthethwa Wins South Africa's Idols Season 8". AllAfrica.com. n.d. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  4. User, Super. "Khaya Mthethwa". aboutentertainment.co.za. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  5. "PICS: Khaya takes the Idols SA crown". Independent Online. South Africa. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  6. "Khaya Mthethwa". Aboutentertainment.co.za. 9 October 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  7. "Team Khaya wins 'Clash of the Choirs' | M&G". Mail & Guardian. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  8. Kutlwano Olifant (22 April 2013). "Khaya's KZN choir comes out on top". Independent Online. South Africa. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  9. "Khaya Mthethwa talks Idols, Gospel Alive and Khuli Chana". ZAlebs.com. 30 October 2013. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  10. Archived 3 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Khaya Mthethwa | TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  12. "Ntando and Khaya Mthethwa are officially married | Bona Magazine". www.bona.co.za. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  13. "WATCH: Khaya Mthethwa explains how he knew Ntando was the one". Retrieved 9 October 2018.
  14. "'My top job is to protect my wife' – Khaya Mthethwa on his marriage to Ntandoyenkosi Kunene". Channel. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
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