Internationally-acclaimed South African star sings Israel’s praises

NICOLA MILTZ

“It was wonderful,” said the multi-award winning, internationally renowned, and platinum selling gospel and R&B singer.

“I overheard a South African group talking in some of our African languages. I walked past and said, “Sanibonani” (Zulu for hello). They realised they knew me. It turned into an excited selfie moment, with most of them fans of my music,” he told the SA Jewish Report this week.

Bala, who is on his fifth visit to Israel, said this week, “I love Israel. My physical being is rooted in Africa, but my spirit finds a home in the city of Jerusalem.”

“It’s the most fascinating nation of miracles,” said the singer, who has become a household name on the South African music and gospel scene.

Bala, who is channel director of the Christian television network, TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) Africa, was visiting this time to produce a documentary titled Israel Unveiled, which will be aired in April.

The purpose of his visit was to “tell the story of Israel” and “to bring to life all that we’ve read in the Bible”, he said.

“We are story tellers, and being in Israel brings our faith to life. To walk in the very same footsteps, breathe the same air, and feel the spiritual energy of the place is so important in telling the story and breathing life into it,” he said.

Bala first visited Israel as a guest for TBN US several years ago. “I visited again with the SABC [the South African Broadcasting Corporation] to produce another show. These visits whet my appetite, and I was left yearning to go back,” he said.

On his most recent visit, Bala and his television crew set out to explore ancient and modern Israel “in a bid to see whether Israel is indeed a blessing to the nations”.

In a Twitter post, Bala said, “The purpose for me was to ascertain the biblical truth contained in Israel’s archaeology, its science and technology, as well as the culture of the people. It was about finding the answer to the relevance of my faith in this nation.

“Israel has a special place in the hearts of all Christians in South Africa and in the whole of Africa. Physically and spiritually, it plays a big part,” he told the SA Jewish Report.

Bala and his team put together a comprehensive tour of the land and its people with the help of the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs and the Israeli embassy in South Africa.

“It’s a place where the history, archaeology, and artefacts go back thousands of years. It’s fascinating that places that existed during Bible times still exist today, and the consistency of a people who pray to the same G-d and still speak the same language is so interesting.”

There were many highlights, the musician said, but what stood out for him was meeting world-renowned experts, doctors, and professors in the fields of medicine, science, technology, archaeology, and agriculture.

“I walked in with an open mind, but who can deny Israel’s innovation – it’s one of the most innovative places in the world in all fields,” he said.

Bala, who has received numerous music awards over the past 20 years of his career, did some recording in studio and jamming sessions with well-known local Israeli singers, which he said was “incredibly special”.

One of the highlights was learning to sing Psalm 46 in Hebrew, and performing it with Israeli singer Birgitta Veksler with the Old City as a backdrop,” he said.

He also recorded a song with Israeli rapper and producer Subliminal, and jammed with Israeli singer Joshua Aaron.

The star shared snippets and photographs of his spiritual journey on social media.

He filmed himself sailing on the Sea of Galilee, “Where Jesus walked on water”, and immersed himself in the Jordan River, where he was baptised in the same place where John baptised Jesus Christ.

He filmed well-known Chef Zuzu of Magdalena Restaurant at work in his kitchen, and visited children at Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) at the Edith Wolfson Medical Centre near Tel Aviv.

Bala said he was interested to learn that SACH had treated more than 5 000 children from more than 60 developing nations.

Bala is well known for his association with the kwaito group TKZee, and with the Bala Brothers, featuring his brothers Zwai and Phelo. He has been both presenter and performer at the South African Music Awards, and performed at the 2012 Miss South Africa pageant.

He grew up in Kwa Nobuhle Township outside Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape, and attended the Drakensburg Boys Choir School.

He has travelled the world and performed alongside international stars including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, and Will Smith to name a few. He shared the stage with international stars Alicia Keys, Shakira, the Black Eyed Peas, and John Legend at the FIFA World Cup Kick-Off concert. He has also performed for notable audiences including the late Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, and Richard Branson.

Bala has received numerous awards ranging from five South African Music Awards (SAMAs), three Metro FM awards, and a South African Film and TV Award (SAFTA) for best musical score.

Bala said each time he visited Israel, he was “prepared to take some flak” from anti-Israel lobbyists, but this didn’t sway his enthusiasm.

“For me, it’s about my spiritual journey, and my spiritual walk is more important than people saying they won’t listen to my music,” he said.