Gospel Musician Sgwili Zuma Celebrates 20 Years in the Industry

South African gospel singer Sgwili Zuma is marking a major milestone, celebrating 20 years in the music industry. The KwaXimba-born artist, who lives with albinism, has navigated a challenging path in a field where misconceptions about people with albinism persist. Known for his hit “Ngiyahluleka Umangingedwa”, Sgwili credits his longevity to faith, resilience, and careful decision-making throughout his career.

Sgwili will mark this achievement with a special concert, “Sgwili’s 20 Years Later”, at the Royal Show Ground in Pietermaritzburg, KZN, on Saturday, 8 November 2025. The event will serve as a thanksgiving celebration, honouring God for protection and guidance over two decades in the music industry. He will also record his upcoming album live during the performance, highlighting both his musical growth and commitment to gospel artistry.

Living with albinism presented unique challenges for Sgwili. He spoke about the fear and caution required when accepting bookings, citing the belief that body parts of people with albinism can be used in muthi for luck. “Although I was scrutinising the bookings, I was always asking myself if those who booked me are people whom I can trust. I thank God that I was protected, because I was always worried about going to perform and never returning home,” he said.

Sgwili also reflected on the broader societal challenges faced by people with albinism. “Other people are still not educated about us. Some call us bad names, and that makes us have low self-esteem and be afraid to come out in public,” he explained. He emphasised that harmful myths linking people with albinism to luck remain a source of danger and discrimination.

“As people try to become wealthier using muthi, they believe that the body parts of people with albinism can help them, but that’s a myth. We are not muthi; we are human beings, just like everyone else. The only difference is that our skin is lighter,” Sgwili said. He called on society to provide equal opportunities to people with albinism across all fields of work.

The upcoming concert will feature a choir of performers living with albinism, creating a platform to showcase talent while celebrating resilience and faith. This milestone marks not only Sgwili Zuma’s enduring presence in gospel music but also his commitment to advocacy and awareness for people with albinism in South Africa.