Eastern Cape singer Zahara, born Bulelwa Mkutukana, started singing in her school and church choir when she was only six years old.
Today, Zahara is a multiaward-winning musician whose debut album, Loliwe , has sold more than 100,000 copies in SA alone and went double-platinum in only 17 days.
The singer appeared on this week ' s episode of SABC 3 show The Insider SA, and took fans back to where it all began, Phumlani in the Eastern Cape.
Zahara is known for her smoky alto voice and her Afrosoul music.
Now back visiting Phumlani, Zahara said: "Growing up here was such an amazing feeling. It got me to where I am at today. "
Though her life is now in Johannesburg, her heart is still at home.
"I love coming to my village because when I get here, my spirit gets freed and I get love because I know I'm coming to my Mama's house. This [is] where I was born and bred and buttered, " she said.
Zahara is the sixth of seven children.
Her family nicknamed her Spinach after her love for the vegetable her mother cultivated in their garden.
Her parents both worked hard to provide for their big family, but as Zahara said:
"They couldn't raise money for me to go to [a] tertiary [institution]. I was left at home, but lucky enough for me, there was a guitar.
"I was never taught how to play the guitar, it just comes from the heart.
"For me, the guitar is a symbol of hope. When everybody is gone, when all my friends are gone, I'll still have my guitar.
"When I saw no light, I knew, something will happen," she said.
It was while busking on the streets of East London that Zahara was offered a record deal.
When starting in the industry, she chose the stage-name Zahara, which appropriately means a blooming flower in Arabic.
"A zahara is a flower and it only blooms in the desert.
"It doesn't need to be watered. It just blooms and blooms every time and any time, " Zahara said.
Her breakout single, Loliwe , was inspired by her mother's stories of the migrant labourers who would leave on the train to Johannesburg.
Today, the songstress has won more than 40 awards, including eight SAMAs when her album Loliwe was released.
She's been awarded Best Female Artist and even Album of the Year.
