By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Mandla Maduna flew the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality (TMDM) flag high when he won awards in two prestigious categories of the Free State Gospel Music Awards (FREESOGMA) in Bloemfontein on November 4 2023.
The two awards are the Best Male Artist of the Year and Best Artist of the Year, which he scooped after winning the Best Song award in the 2022 instalment of the awards.
FREESOGMA is an event that recognizes and honours outstanding achievements in the local music industry.
Relating his journey, Maduna who is a professional firefighter, said his call is to inspire and heal people through his gospel music.
“My journey began as a youth singing in church until I was good enough to join the praise and worship team. Gospel music is my life; it is what I love to do.
“I worked with DRM Studio and Productions and recorded my first single called ‘Busa’ that won me the Best Song of the Year in last year’s awards. This year I recorded the El Shaddai worship medley which is available on all digital music platforms together with my first single.”
“I am truly humbled by such an achievement. I am very grateful for all the support that I received from all the people who voted for me and the support of my friends, family and the Thabo Mofutsanyana district that contributed to my transport to Bloemfontein and my accommodation while there. I am truly grateful,” Maduna said in an interview with The Guard.
Maduna’s wife Lebohang, was equally ecstatic when asked how she felt about her husband winning the two awards.
“I am very happy that we were able to get two awards in one year. It is such a blessing. I am truly grateful to the people of Qwaqwa and the Free State for supporting my husband and appreciating his gift and talent of music.”
Youth In Action’s (YIA) Mandla Mthembu who has played a pivotal role in Maduna’s journey had the following to say:
“Mandla and I met in church – we both go to Show Tell Bible Church. I have been supporting him as a bother and a friend, and helped him to get the help and support that he needed from different stakeholders.
Winner Mandla Maduna and Thabo Mofutsanyana district municipality manager Takatso Lebenya.
“Mandla has immense talent, and I am very happy that he won these prestigious awards. I am also very thankful to all the people who supported him by voting for him, as well as the office of the district executive mayor Conny Msibi and district Municipal Manager (MM) Takatso Lebenya. I am truly proud of my brother.”
For her part, Lebenya said there is a lot of talent in the area that needs to be nurtured.
“From the administrative office of Thabo Mufutsanyana’s district municipality, I’d like to say that there is a lot of talent in our communities and we if we as a district do not support our own, what will happen to all this talent.
“Next year I promise that we will support Mandla every step of the way from the time he is nominated, and I hope that he can take others under his wing. I am so happy for such big awards; thank you to the Free State,” Lebenya said.
