Zahara is a South African singer, songwriter, and poet who sings in Xhosa as well as in English. Born in 1987, her debut album, Loliwe, was released in 2011 and sold over 100,000 copies in her native country in less than three weeks. It was certified double platinum. That year, she won three awards from Metro FM Music Awards, including Best Female Album and Song of the Year. She released a live DVD in 2012, and followed it with her second studio offering, Phendula, in September of 2013. The recording featured a slew of guest appearances by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Mzwakhe Mbuli, 2 Face Idibia, and numerous others. The set's title track was issued as its first single; it hit the top spot on South Africa's digital charts mere hours after being released. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi