Spirit of Praise

Spirit of Praise is a South African gospel music collective known for bringing some of the country’s leading gospel singers and worship musicians together for large-scale live recordings and performances. Formed in Johannesburg in 2008 as the flagship project of Spirit Music Group, the collective has developed a distinctive format in which established gospel artists perform alongside emerging vocalists, creating a changing musical family rather than a conventional fixed-member choir.

Over the years, Spirit of Praise has featured more than 40 artists, including Benjamin Dube, Keke Phoofolo, Solly Mahlangu, Zaza Mokheti, Omega Khunou, Neyi Zimu, Dumi Mkokstad, Mmatema, Ayanda Ntanzi, Winnie Mashaba, Thinah Zungu and others. Its recordings combine South African gospel traditions with contemporary praise and worship, with a strong emphasis on live musicianship, powerful vocal arrangements and communal worship. The project has become one of the most recognisable gospel brands in South Africa, earning multiple South African Music Awards and Crown Gospel Music Awards.

Formation and Early Years

Spirit of Praise was established in 2008 as a project of Spirit Music Group, a Johannesburg-based music production and distribution company. Rather than creating another conventional gospel band with a permanent line-up, the concept was designed as a platform where Spirit Music’s soloists and vocalists could come together for live recordings and performances. The project therefore developed around a rotating cast of artists whose individual careers could continue alongside their involvement with the collective.

The first Spirit of Praise recordings were made at the Pretoria State Theatre in 2008. The initial two-volume project featured established South African gospel figures including Benjamin Dube, Keke Phoofolo and Solly Mahlangu. These early recordings established the live, multi-artist format that would remain central to Spirit of Praise throughout its subsequent history.

The concept also served as a way of introducing new singers to gospel audiences. By placing emerging performers on the same stage as established names, Spirit of Praise created an environment in which different generations of South African gospel musicians could share audiences and musical experiences.

Musical Style and Identity

Spirit of Praise is rooted in South African gospel but its sound encompasses a broad range of contemporary Christian music. The collective combines traditional South African vocal styles, African rhythms, praise music and modern gospel arrangements. Because different singers take the lead on different songs, each volume has its own personality while retaining the recognisable Spirit of Praise sound.

Live performance is particularly important to the collective’s identity. The recordings are generally made before audiences rather than assembled purely as studio productions, giving the music the atmosphere of a large worship gathering. Strong lead vocals are supported by layered harmonies, a full band and large ensemble sections.

Another defining feature is the diversity of the performers. Spirit of Praise has brought together veteran gospel ministers and younger singers, allowing the project to reflect different generations of South African gospel music. The result is a musical platform that can move between traditional worship, contemporary praise and more elaborate live gospel arrangements.

Career and Major Recordings

Following its first two volumes, Spirit of Praise continued the series with Volume 3, recorded at the Lyric Theatre in 2010. Volume 4 was recorded at the Big Top Arena at Carnival City in 2012, marking an expansion in the scale of the live productions. The project subsequently returned to Carnival City for Volumes 5 through 8, recorded between 2014 and 2022.

The later volumes helped establish Spirit of Praise as a major live gospel production in South Africa. Volume 5 featured artists including Benjamin Dube, the Dube Brothers, Omega Khunou, Vicky Vilakazi and Neyi Zimu, while later editions brought in artists such as Dumi Mkokstad, Mmatema, Thinah Zungu, Ayanda Ntanzi and others.

The collective eventually moved its major live recordings to the SunBet Arena in Pretoria. Volume 9 was recorded there in 2023, followed by Volume 10 in 2024. The move to a larger arena reflected the scale the project had reached after more than a decade of live recordings.

Among the songs associated with the later volumes are “Bheka Ezulwini Medley,” led by Mpumi Mtsweni, “Jesu Yedwa,” featuring Dumi Mkokstad, “Kena Dipelong,” featuring Omega Khunou, “Bina Moya Waka,” featuring Mmatema and “Uyabusa,” featuring Ayanda Ntanzi.

Notable Artists and Collaborations

The rotating nature of Spirit of Praise means that its history is closely connected to the careers of the artists who have participated in its recordings. Benjamin Dube has been one of its most prominent figures, while other notable contributors have included Keke Phoofolo, Solly Mahlangu, Zaza Mokheti, Tshepiso Mpotle, Omega Khunou, Neyi Zimu, Dumi Mkokstad, Winnie Mashaba, Mmatema, Thinah Zungu and Ayanda Ntanzi.

For many performers, the platform has provided an opportunity to reach audiences beyond their individual recordings. Spirit of Praise’s large live productions place different singers within the same musical setting, allowing listeners to encounter established favourites alongside newer voices.

The collective’s catalogue therefore functions as something of a record of South African gospel’s changing generations. Artists who have appeared in earlier volumes have gone on to pursue successful solo careers, while newer performers have entered the project and become increasingly prominent within its performances.

Awards and Recognition

Spirit of Praise has received significant recognition within South Africa’s gospel and broader music industry. The group’s official profile states that the collective has received nine Crown Gospel Awards and three South African Music Awards.

At the South African Music Awards, Spirit of Praise Vol. 4 won Best Traditional Faith Music Album in 2013. Spirit of Praise Vol. 6 received the same award in 2017, while Spirit of Praise Vol. 7 was recognised in the category in 2019.

The group’s Crown Gospel recognition has also included awards for its live productions and collaborations. Spirit of Praise Vol. 5, for example, received the Best Gospel DVD and Best Gospel Group awards at the 2015 Crown Gospel Music Awards.

These awards have helped establish Spirit of Praise not simply as a successful recording series but as one of the major live gospel productions in South Africa.

Recent Activities

Spirit of Praise continued its live-recording tradition with Volume 11, recorded at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria on 28 June 2025. The edition featured Dumi Mkokstad, Omega Khunou, Canaan Nyathi, Everton Mlalazi, Sindi Ntombela, Mpumi Mtsweni, Kgaogelo Kekana, Xola Toto, Lufuno Dagada and Katleho Seobi, among others. Longtime contributors Tshepo Nyawuza and Ntsamayeng Motloung also appeared as recording artists on the project.

The 11th edition continued the collective’s “Next Level” theme and demonstrated the project’s ongoing commitment to introducing different voices while retaining some of the singers who have become closely associated with its sound. Its 2025 catalogue included live performances such as “Ufanelwe,” featuring Omega Khunou, “Usibiyele,” featuring Canaan Nyathi, “Ukhona,” featuring Mpumi Mtsweni and “Ngu Jesu (Bayede),” featuring Sindi Ntombela.

The collective has also continued to evolve as individual artists move in and out of the line-up. Its changing membership is a deliberate part of the Spirit of Praise model rather than a sign of instability, allowing the project to remain connected to both established gospel performers and emerging talent.

Legacy and Influence

Spirit of Praise has become an important part of the modern South African gospel landscape because of its ability to turn a collection of individual artists into a recognisable musical institution. Its rotating format has allowed numerous singers to share a platform while preserving the importance of live gospel performance.

The collective’s influence can also be seen in the way it has connected generations of South African gospel musicians. Veteran performers have appeared alongside younger artists, creating a musical bridge between established gospel traditions and contemporary worship. At the same time, its large-scale live recordings have helped keep ensemble-based gospel performance at the centre of popular Christian music in South Africa.

More than a decade after its formation, Spirit of Praise remains defined by the same basic idea that shaped its beginnings: bringing gifted gospel artists together on one stage and allowing their different voices to contribute to a larger expression of worship. Its extensive catalogue, changing line-ups, major live productions and award-winning recordings have made it one of South Africa’s enduring contemporary gospel collectives.