UMAFIKIZOLO opens up about critics.
Top musician Umafikizolo has opened up about ignoring critics and overcoming pressure and challenges on his journey to the top of the music industry.
The musician has now won major awards and prizes with the same tune that was once heavily criticised.
The 25-year-old musician from uMnambithi in the KZN Midlands recently won the much-contested Ukhozi FM Ingoma Ehlukanisa Unyaka Top 10 and the Metro FM Music Awards Song of the Year award with his hit song Uyoncengwa Unyoko.
'People said they couldn't hear me'
Umafikizolo, whose real name is Lethukuthula Mhlongo, said he takes pride in ignoring critics who nearly pushed him to change his style.
He told Daily Sun that when he started his music career, many maskandi fans criticised his style, saying he was whispering and they couldn't hear his lyrics properly.
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He said he ignored the criticism because fans had also criticised his role model, the late Mjikijelwa Ngubane, before they eventually accepted and loved his style before he died in 2018.
Ukubekezela paid off
"I never expected that I'd reach this level in my music career because I was under heavy pressure and facing critics. The biggest challenge was that I'm doing maskandi music and I should get support from maskandi fans before I get support from fans of other genres. The challenge was that many maskandi fans were criticising me, saying they don't hear what I'm saying and telling me that my genre wasn't maskandi. Others were saying I'm singing kak and ended up calling my genre kak. I'm grateful that my resilience finally paid off and I received support at the end," he said.
Umafikizolo said being criticised by maskandi fans while supporters from other genres stood by him gave him a major headache.
Inspired by Mjikijelwa
"I just remembered that maskandi fans started by criticising Mjikijelwa, but because Mjikijelwa believed in his tune. But the same fans ended up supporting him.
"They also started by criticising me, but because I also believe in myself like Mjikijelwa, now they're supporting me in numbers. I'm happy for that and I appreciate their support," he added.
