Edward Tsumele

Edward Tsumele

Former professional stripper-turned kwaito musician Tshoganetso "Sinkay" Mhago has finally released his debut album, Still Standing.

Sinkay, who early last year sensationally revealed to Sowetan his darker side, is happy he has fully turned over a new leaf in his professional life.

For several years, he earned money for his upkeep in the belly of Hillbrow by stripping for bored, rich women of the northern suburbs.

"Still Standing is my way of saying, despite the challenges that I have met in life as a stripper, I have somehow turned my life around. Many people would have expected a person of my background, especially looking at what I went through in life, to be down and out. That, however, is not so. I am now more focused and the release of this album in December last year has demonstrated that I am again up on my feet," he said of his 10-track album that is now available at CD shops around the country.

"This album is hardcore kwaito delivered mainly in Sesotho and Setswana. I have come up with a new beat - the Sinkay beat. It has been challenging and something of a risk-prone act to deviate from the normal kwaito beat for something new.

"I performed at Monaco in Melville, at Primi Piatti in Johannesburg and at the Europa Lodge in Pretoria during the festive season," he said.