WeeklySA_AdminSPIRITUAL: Award-winning vocalist Brenda Mtambo returns to her gospel roots with Amahubo Ka Gogo, a deeply personal theatre production inspired by the hymns, prayers and songs of her childhood that celebrates faith, family, healing and the enduring legacy of South Africa’s grandmothers…
By Sibusiso Ketwa
Award-winning South African vocalist Brenda Mtambo will premiere her highly anticipated new theatre production, Amahubo Ka Gogo, at the Theatre of Marcellus, Emperors Palace in Johannesburg on July 18, before taking the production to the Playhouse Company Opera Theatre in Durban on August 15.
Inspired by the hymns, prayers and songs that shaped her childhood, the production is a deeply personal musical production that celebrates faith, family, healing and the enduring legacy of the women who passed these traditions from one generation to the next. The production also marks the beginning of Brenda’s long-awaited return to her gospel roots and serves as a precursor to her forthcoming album of the same name.
For years, audiences have encouraged Brenda to record and perform a body of work rooted in the hymns and spiritual music that first introduced many South Africans to her extraordinary voice. The production is her response to those requests, bringing together traditional hymns, African musical influences, contemporary arrangements and heartfelt storytelling in a moving theatrical experience.
Audiences can expect powerful live vocals, beautifully reimagined hymns familiar to generations of South Africans, exceptional live musicianship and an immersive theatre production that creates space for reflection, celebration, healing and spiritual renewal.
Best known for her remarkable tenure with Joyous Celebration and acclaimed songs, including Ungenzela Konke Okuhle, Ixesha Lami, Themba Njalo, I Love You and Mhlaba Wethu, Brenda Mtambo has established herself as one of South Africa’s most respected vocalists. Throughout a career spanning more than a decade, she has earned widespread acclaim for her powerful voice, emotional authenticity and captivating live performances.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the production, Brenda says, “Amahubo Ka Gogo is deeply personal. It is inspired by my late grandmother, the woman who raised me through song, prayer and discipline, and whose influence continues to shape both my life and my career. This production is my way of honouring her legacy while creating a space where audiences can reconnect with their own memories, faith and the people who nurtured them spiritually.”
More than a concert, the show is a celebration of South Africa’s rich spiritual heritage and the timeless hymns that have comforted, inspired and united generations. It is a tribute to the songs that raised us, the prayers that sustained us and the grandmothers whose voices continue to echo through our lives.
Tickets for both performances are available from Webtickets.
