Award-winning singer and songwriter, Berita, real name Gugulethu Khumalo, announced her return to university to get a degree in Business.
She is currently enrolled part-time at Gibbs Business School. Berita showed off her syndicate, and further revealed how she nailed a class presentation on African Entertainment. “Building for the future, even if i have to sacrifice some of my weekends when I’m not gigging,” she wrote. “I just started my business school journey. Today we were asked to present on the African entertainment industry. This was killing me. I wont lie, talking in front of people is not the same,” but she said she smashed it.
She is multi-award winning, platinum selling singer-songwriter, guitarist, music producer and founder of music rights and talent management company Assali Music. Introduced to South Africa in 2012 with the now classic debut ‘Thandolwethu’ Berita has gone on to release four studio albums to critical and commercial acclaim. Preceded by the much loved 2019 single ‘Ndicel’ikiss’, Berita began 2020 with her chart topping fourth studio album “Songs in The Key of Love” released on the 28th of February 2020 . The album’s leading single ‘Jikizinto’ peaked at number 1 on the Radio Monitor charts making Berita the first Solo female and independent artist to have a number 1 record in the new decade.
Berita’s music style was influenced by her distinct background. Born in Zimbabwe, Berita was introduced to the music of Oliver Mtukudzi and Majaivana, South African artists Brenda Fassie, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Mafikizolo. In 2007 she emigrated to New Zealand with her family in search of greener pastures due to the difficult economic and political climate in Zimbabwe. Whilst living in the diaspora Berita found solace in infectious pop music on the radio inspiring her to pick up the guitar. In 2011 Berita arrived in South Africa with a suitcase and a guitar on a parental mandate to attend tertiary education and secretly to pursue her love for music. Needless to say she excelled in both!
Berita has cemented her position as African music royalty, rubbing shoulders with late Zimbabwean music giant Oliver Mtukudzi and Grammy award winning world-renowned Hugh Masekela on the adult contemporary chart topping collaboration titled Mwana wa mai released in 2014. Berita has released dance hits with South African house music legends Oskido and DJ Tira. Equally comfortable amongst her peers Berita has worked with dance mavericks Mobi Dixon and Da Capo as well as award-winning soul singer Amanda Black. Berita has graced live stages in East and Southern Africa including the Bayimba International Festival (Uganda), Lake of Stars Festival (Malawi), Jakaranda Music Festival (Zimbabwe) and Cape Town International Jazz festival (South Africa).
Cece Smith 
Bongi Sikelo 