Khaya Mthethwa | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Khayelihle Nkosinathi Mthethwa |
Born | 25 November 1987 |
Origin | Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | |
Years active | 2012–present |
Labels | Universal Music Group |
Associated acts |
Joyous Celebration Israel Houghton |
Khaya Mthethwa (born 25 November 1987), Umlazi, also known as The PK (The Pastors Kid) is a South African singer-songwriter, musician, composer, arranger, and the multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for winning the 8th season of TV singing competition Idols South Africa, the first black person to have done so. He is also known as a choir member of the gospel group Joyous Celebration, popular both in South Africa across Africa.
Born and raised in Durban Kwa-Zulu Natal, Khaya Mthethwa grew up in a church environment. His father Bhekithemba Mthethwa is a minister at the Umlazi Oasis Fellowship Centre. After finishing high school Khaya wanted to pursue a career in music but his parents were not keen on the idea and so he went on to study project management at the varsity college but remained active in a church as a music director of the church choir.
Khaya Mthethwa first appeared as a backing vocalist singing Tenor for Joyous Celebration co-founder Mthunzi Namba's Mercy album. He was then asked to join Joyous Celebration two days prior to the live recording of Joyous Celebration 15 in 2010. In 2012 Khaya appeared on Ntokozo Mbambo's Filled album, again as a backing vocalist. In 2012, he entered Idols South Africa with the intention of trying out a different genre to enhance his music abilities. He went on to win the competition. In 2013, he participated in another TV competition, The Clash Of The Choirs, this time as part of the Kwa-Zulu Natal choir; the group won. Khaya can sing gospel, pop, jazz and R&B, and he is a self-taught musician who can play a keyboard, guitar, drums and percussion. He is also a songwriter, and wrote most of the songs in his debut album, For You.
Khaya Mthethwa is a host of Gospel Alive a Gospel TV show that premiered 3 November 2013 on Mutlichoice DSTV's Mzansi magic channel, on which he worked with content producer Tebogo Rameetse. In 2015 he was ordained as a pastor. In 2014 he released a live DVD recording titled The Uprising.