Hlengiwe Mhlaba

Hlengiwe Mhlaba is a South African gospel singer, songwriter and worship minister known for a powerful, expressive voice and a career rooted firmly in Christian music. Born in 1973 and raised in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal, she began singing while she was still working as a teacher before her talent brought her into contact with gospel musician and producer Sipho Makhabane. That meeting eventually opened the door to a professional recording career.

Mhlaba is best known for songs such as “Uyalalela,” “Sewakhile,” “Dwala Lami,” “Sweet Jesus,” “You Are Alpha” and “Sthandwa Sami.” Her music draws heavily from South Africa’s gospel tradition, combining worship, praise and traditional influences with a distinctive vocal style. Over the years, she has established herself as one of the recognizable voices in South African gospel, while continuing to release music and perform for Christian audiences.

Early Life and Background

Hlengiwe Mhlaba was born and raised in KwaMashu, a township in the Durban area of KwaZulu-Natal. Her early connection with music developed through her Christian faith and her involvement in gospel singing. Before music became her full-time profession, she worked as a teacher, teaching Mathematics and Science at Ndesheni High School in Empangeni. During this period, she also sang with a group known as Pongola Gospel Wagon, performing at weddings, parties and other local gatherings.

Those performances gave Mhlaba an opportunity to develop her voice and stage presence outside the traditional church setting. Her ability eventually caught the attention of established gospel musician and promoter Sipho Makhabane, who recognized her potential and invited her to become part of his musical projects. The relationship became an important turning point in her life and helped move her from local performances into professional gospel recording.

How Her Music Career Started

Mhlaba’s professional recording career took shape in the mid-2000s through her association with Sipho Makhabane and Amanxusa Productions. Makhabane gave her the opportunity to record her first album, Dwala Lami, which was released in 2005. The project introduced her as a solo gospel artist and established the foundation for the recording career that followed.

Her early work was particularly notable for the way it connected traditional South African gospel with contemporary Christian recording. She sang in both English and Zulu, allowing her music to reach listeners across different parts of the country’s gospel community. Mhlaba also became associated with Makhabane beyond the recording studio, eventually joining him in the running of Amanxusa Productions.

Career and Breakthrough

Following Dwala Lami, Mhlaba built a substantial catalogue of gospel recordings, releasing projects including Hlala Kuye, Laphalala Igazi, Abba Baba, Esandleni Somusa, Blessings, Edwaleni and Sthandwa Sami (Moy’ Ongcwele). Her recordings established a consistent identity built around worship, testimony and songs of Christian devotion.

One of the defining songs of her early career was “Uyalalela,” a worship song centered on the belief that God hears and answers prayer. The song became sufficiently prominent within South African gospel circles to receive the Best Song award at the inaugural Crown Gospel Music Awards in 2008. Its simple, memorable refrain and Mhlaba’s vocal delivery helped make it one of the songs most closely associated with her name.

Her catalogue continued to grow throughout the following decade. Songs such as “Sewakhile,” “You Are Alpha,” “Rock of Ages,” “Yebo Nkosi,” “Sweet Jesus” and “Living Waters” further strengthened her reputation as a gospel vocalist capable of moving between intimate worship songs and more expansive praise performances.

Musical Style and Influences

Mhlaba’s music is grounded in Christian worship and South African gospel, with Zulu-language expression playing an important role in her work. Her recordings often favor clear, devotional messages and melodies designed to work both as personal worship and congregational songs.

Her voice is one of the most recognizable elements of her music. Rather than relying solely on elaborate production, many of her performances place considerable emphasis on vocal expression and the emotional weight of the message. Her earlier recordings reflect the sound of traditional and contemporary African gospel, while later projects incorporate broader modern production approaches. Her 2017 album Sthandwa Sami (Moy’ Ongcwele), for example, was noted for incorporating synthesizer-based textures into her established gospel sound.

Notable Songs and Albums

Dwala Lami remains an important starting point in Mhlaba’s discography, introducing her as a solo recording artist in 2005. Other significant releases include Hlala Kuye, Laphalala Igazi, Abba Baba, Esandleni Somusa, Blessings, Edwaleni and Sthandwa Sami (Moy’ Ongcwele). Her catalogue also includes Live at the State Theatre, which captures her music in a live performance setting.

Among her best-known songs are “Uyalalela,” “Sewakhile,” “Dwala Lami,” “Sweet Jesus,” “You Are Alpha,” “Sthandwa Sami,” “Living Waters” and “Esphambanweni.” The latter features Mhlaba alongside Kelly Khumalo on Khumalo’s The Voice of Africa, demonstrating Mhlaba’s ability to work beyond her own solo catalogue.

Mhlaba has continued recording into the 2020s. Her more recent catalogue includes the album Relentless Worship, released in March 2025. The 20-track project includes songs such as “Amazing Grace,” “Dwala Lami,” “Nearer My God,” “Precious Jesus,” “Ulidwala Lethu” and “Uthando Lwakho,” reflecting the worship-centered character that has remained central to her career.

Collaborations and Other Appearances

Mhlaba’s career has included collaborations with a number of artists within South Africa’s gospel and broader Christian music scene. Her long association with Sipho Makhabane was particularly important during the early stages of her career, with Makhabane serving as a producer and collaborator on several of her recordings.

She has also appeared alongside artists such as Benjamin Dube and Kelly Khumalo. Her collaboration with Khumalo on “Esphambanweni” brought her voice to a wider audience through The Voice of Africa, while her appearances on collaborative gospel projects have further connected her work with South Africa’s wider worship community.

In 2018, Mhlaba also made a television appearance on the South African drama series Uzalo. She performed as part of a church-centered storyline and described the experience as a new challenge because she was accustomed to performing on stage rather than working on a television set.

Awards, Recognition and Legacy

Recognition has followed Mhlaba throughout her career, particularly within South Africa’s gospel music industry. “Uyalalela” won Best Song at the inaugural Crown Gospel Music Awards in 2008, helping cement the song’s place in the country’s gospel tradition. It was also recognized again in the Crown Gospel Awards’ Best Gospel Classic category in 2012.

In 2019, Mhlaba won Best Gospel Female Artist at the 12th SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards. She was also nominated in the Best Classic of All Time category for “Sewakhile.”

Beyond individual awards, Mhlaba’s lasting contribution lies in the consistency of her ministry and recording career. From her beginnings as a teacher and local gospel performer to her emergence as a nationally recognized recording artist, she has maintained a musical identity centered on faith, worship and South African gospel traditions. Her continued releases, including Relentless Worship in 2025, show that her work remains active rather than confined to her earlier successes.