Music

A 29-year-old vocalist and social worker, Joyce Makgauta Shirinda, earned herself respect and admiration in the music industry when she won the best backing vocalist in the Independent National Gospel Music Awards (Ingoma Awards).

The ceremony, which was held at Doxa Deo Hall in Pretoria recently, saw Joyce shining all the way from her rural Mavalani village in Giyani to accept her award with a bright smile.

“I heard of the Ingoma Awards early this year and since I didn't have a CD of my own, I had to use Restoration of Praise's CD to enter the competition under the best backing vocalist category,” she said. “It was a tough competition when I look at the other nominees.”

Joyce had worked with Restoration of Praise as a backing vocalist on two projects.

During her days as a social work student at the University of Venda, she had met Nkoka Manganyi, who introduced her to Robert Nemadzivhanani. A former Worship House member, Nemadzivhanani noticed Joyce's talent and used her as his alto backing vocalist.

“We did two projects together,” she said. “I then joined Centiana as his backing vocalist.”

She said that working with different singers and musicians had given her massive experience in the industry. “It was through working with this group that I had gained experience which changed me and my life for the better,” she said.

Joyce was born in QwaQwa in the Free State and is the daughter of Mr Elias Shirinda and Mrs Monica Shirinda. Her younger siblings are Falaza, Khamduze and Nyeleti. They are all grandchildren of the highly talented backbone of Xitsonga music, MD Shirinda and Gege Chapu.

“I grew up in the Revelation Church, under pastor SGR Maluleke,” she said. “As I was part of Sunday school, I developed a love of music and fine-tuned my voice. I was always given a chance to sing in the church and encouraged to do so even at home. Day by day my love of music developed to a higher level.”

However, Joyce garnered herself support from fans and the public through the social media. “I asked my Facebook and WhatsApp friends for votes and they really supported me,” she recalled.

“I am currently working on my own album, titled Grace and Mercy,” she said. “My stage name is Joyce Makgauta. Makgauta means mother of gold and that is what I see in myself. I am a social worker by profession and I cannot trade my profession for anything, nor my music.”