“Live a balanced life ...”

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Many South Africans might not have heard about him, but in his home town of Musina, Obby Nkanyane is an example of inspiration and hard work, despite wearing many hats.

Obby is a well-known gospel artist who helps other local budding artists by giving them an opportunity to record their music in his studio, the Elegant Sound Production. As an operator at the local mining company for the past five years and a staunch member of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC), he also has the responsibility of balancing his family life and church activities.

“It is not easy to balance all these things simultaneously, but all of them are equally important to me. During the day, I’m at work at the mine. Monday and Thursday nights are my days for working in the studio. If the work is too demanding, I also work on Saturdays and I spend Sundays at church with my wife Winnie and my three kids,” he said while adding the final touches to his latest album.

He said he was inspired to love music by his late mother, Nkhumeleni Lucy Ngwenya, who used to sing for the legendary Adziambei Band. “Seeing her singing on a daily basis was a turning point in my life and I told myself that I wanted to be like her one day. I wish she were still alive, so that she could see my success and smile at me. Her death was a serious blow to me.”

As a well-celebrated local artist, Obby has three successful albums under his belt. “My first album, Fukedza Mavhida (Filling up graves), was released in 2001. It came to my attention that the rate of death was becoming high in our town and I decided to express it through the album. It was also a warning to my fellow young people to lead a clean life. I then released my second album, Mme Motsoadi, in 2004. This was a tribute to my loving mother and it was also well received by the local music fraternity. My third album, Africa, was released in 2009.”

He is completing the final touches to his fourth album, Ntate Jehova, which will be released in due course. He says his plan is to build a top-class recording studio to contribute to the development of music in the country. “I still need additional equipment and space, but I cannot afford everything as I’m doing it from my pocket.”

By: News Correspondent

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