Patience Bambalele

After touring Durban, Johannesburg and Limpopo, the Cell C Gospel Festival is set to dazzle Mpumalanga music lovers at the Lowveld Showgrounds, Nelspruit, on November 4 at 5pm.

The festival has an exciting line-up that includes Sipho "The Big Fish" Makhabane, Hlengiwe Mhlaba, Masibuyele Kujehova, Coth Worship Team, JE Mathebula aka Eleck, and New Image.

Makhabane, who earlier this year scooped the South African Music Award for Best African Traditional Gospel Album for his collaboration with Jabu Hlongwane, is an established gospel artist.

Makhabane has become one of South African gospel music's most prominent ambassadors, earning a strong fan base for his impassioned take on the music genre.

Hlengiwe Mhlaba, who backed Makhabane, recorded her debut in 2004 titled Idwala Lam. The album has sold multiplatinum units, making Mhlaba one of the best selling gospel artists locally.

Masibuyele is one of the most successful gospel choirs. Established in 1988, the group has won numerous awards.

Eleck is another highly popular gospel artist who hopes to establish himself.

Eleck has just released an album Owuhlawulela ElamIcala, has. He has also maintained a strong and solid fan base.

Simone Camerer of Cell C says : "We have seen from the previous three festivals in Durban, Soweto and Thohoyandou that gospel music fans are eager to experience their favourite artists in good surroundings, with great sound, lighting and production and this is what we are delivering in Nelspruit."

Tickets cost R35.