Tshivenda traditional music artist Fhatuwani Richard Mashele is a happy man. His first attempt at producing a Tshivenda album has been nominated for a South African Traditional Music Award (SATMA).
Known as Fhatu, he recently released his debut Tshivenda traditional-music album. The title track, Vhomakhulu, has been nominated in the Best Tshivenda Artist/Group category. He is competing against Junior Sikheli and Papa Thile in this category.
“I am so emotional and excited at the same time to have been nominated for such a prestigious award. This is my first Tshivenda traditional-music project and my first album. Being nominated for the first time out of the hundreds of well-established artists means a lot to me,” he said.
Fhatu believes that the organisers of the event have recognised something extraordinary in him. “This has also boosted my morale, and I am more determined to work harder and produce more good music by using this God-given talent of mine,” he said.
The musician from Hatshikonelo village, just outside Thohoyandou, is not new to the music scene. He is also an established reggae artist known as Jah Saint in reggae music circles.
He began his music career at the age of 15 and has a reggae album titled Born In.
His outstanding skills in keyboard and guitar playing have made him a household name in the church fraternity and at his village.
