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NOTHANDO HLOPHE PACKS HUNDREDS AT ALBUM LAUNCH

By Ayanda Dlamini | 2018-10-15

HUNDREDS of gospel music lover’s flocked Sibane Hotel auditorium to witness Nothando Hlophe’s launch as she launched her second album.

Gospel fanatics were ushered into a realm of worship and praise by the award winning star Nothando Hlophe on Saturday at Sibane Hotel, Ezulwini during her second album launch dubbed ‘ Nothando Hlophe Live in Soweto’.

Straight from scooping several gongs at the MTN SWAMA awards last year and recording her second album in Soweto, the gospel queen brought the house down with her praise and worship tunes and gave her fans what she had been cooking over the past two years.

She performed all the songs from the album, mounting the stage with a worship song titled ‘Ngenelela’ in a gorgeous, classy and stylish maroon gown with her make-up and hair on fleek.

The first set was dominated with worshiping songs. She lifted up the packed venue when she rendered ‘ Wobuya lo Jesu’; a well know hymn, however, her version of the song was a bit modern which the audience enjoyed as they sang along and worshiping the lord.

She thrilled her fans when she rendered ‘Sikufanelo lesihlalo’; a song that has been a teaser on her Facebook since she recorded it.

Just when the worshiping got deep, she rendered another version of ‘Khulul Ugcobo’, which saw everyone singing along on their feet and lifting up their hands as they were relating to the hit song. Worth noting is that, this song is also part of the album although it is on her first album ‘Imphilo yami’.

Around 9:30 pm, the gospel queen took a break for the second set which was basically conquered with praise tunes.

She mounted the stage with a western praise song; ‘Lord we give you praise’. She literally changed the atmosphere during the second set as she would join the crowd and dance in her blue gleaming body hugging dress with a bit of lace on it. ‘Shiya’ received a positive response from the crowd with its up-tempo beats. It has the ‘Ezemathendeni’ kind of beats which is enjoyed by most gospel fanatics. The song is all about leaving wordly behaviour and choosing God. She sealed her splendid set with ‘Sekukaningi’; a song she recorded with Women in Praise’.

Nothando’s album launch was graced by ENCAC Stanley Dlamini, Swazi Mobile CCE Gciniwe Fakudze, African Alliance CEO Nelisiwe Mabuza, Woman in Praise members’ Thando Makhaphela who was the programme director of the show and Precious Mosotho, HMC Senior Superintend Nothando Ntjangase and Landokuhle Dlamini to name a few.

“I really thank my fans who came tonight (Saturday night) to support me. As you can see it was a full house. This is the start. We are not done. I’m seeing myself performing on international stages with Tasha Cobbs,” said the gospel star during a brief interview after her splendid performance.

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