Gospel singer started in trains

THE 'I Want To Sing Gospel' winner recently found himself in Israel and largely thanks to his days of singing in trains.

THE I Want To Sing Gospel winner recently found himself in Israel and largely thanks to his days of singing in trains.

Nhlakanipho Cele won the competition last year. The prize included a trip to Israel and that is where he aligned himself with God, he says.

"Going to Jerusalem has improved my music. There, the Bible is brought to life. I meditated a lot and I got closer to God," Cele says.

His album, Wethembekile, is a 12-track offering which Cele feels should have been titled The Testimony, but his management felt otherwise.

He feels the album has many messages for the listener because all his experiences are embodied in the songs.

"You can only do self-reflection when you are close to God and this album will help people to do just that.

"It's not always about preaching, but as preachers we need to do a lot of self-inspection," Cele adds.

The 29-year-old says Wethembekile is a conversation with God. He describes the album as traditional gospel, incorporating a Biblical chorus and old hymns.

"Because of the old hymns and the chorus, I feel as if I am a vehicle and God is in the driving seat," Cele says.

Coming from a religious family, he says that he started singing at an early age with his mother, who used to preach in trains.

He says his mother always introduced him as "my boy with the beautiful voice" before she would ask him to sing for her commuting congregation.

And listening to him sing these days is ample proof that Cele has never disappointed the favourite woman in his life.