Sechaba Padi Is Ready to Release New Music After Years Of Pain
Sechaba Pali is a multi-award winning South African gospel artist who is known for his deep voice. The talented singer from Welkom disappeared from the gospel music scene for a while.
Sechaba is now ready to share his side of the story and make music again provided he gets the right support. Losing his father was a wake up call for him after he was so broke such that he could not burry his loved one.
More About Sechaba
Sechaba’s father was a pastor, he learned to sing at church and taught himself to play the keyboard from his teens back in his hometown, Welkom. He speaks fondly of his late father Pastor Padi saying he taught him how to worship and read the bible.
Sechaba got his first break with a Lesedi FM event with Twasa where he sang a solo with his church choir in front of thousands of people. After deciding he wanted to be a fulltime musician, he was advised to consider moving to Johannesburg.
He cleared the air that he was not a street kid as reported in some publications but has a home in Welkom where his family lives. He however was just hit by hard times in Johannesburg when starting his music career and he had no place to stay at the time. After failing for sometime to launch his music career in Johannesburg, he then worked as a cleaner and in the kitchen to make ends meet.
Sechaba on his Music Career Big Break
He soon got his next break when he was introduced by Joyous Celebration 2003 to the lime light with his hit โEloi Eloiโ. Sechaba’s voice on โEloi Eloiโ gave him the stepping stone he needed then that opened doors for him to record with Tshepo Nzimande. Sechaba became very popular with his big voice and was loved by many people as a traditional gospel artist. He became a platinum selling and
award winning gospel artist making him a house hold name together with the likes of Lundi , Sfiso Ncwane, Rebecca Malope in that season.
However the trouble allegedly started when he realized that after he released his albums, he still never saw the money flowing in as expected. Sechaba recalls that he then had a fallout to the point of a fistfight with Tshepo Nzimande from his label due to financial disputes of his royalties.
Sechaba however also became a tabloid favorite for his controversial lifestyle outside gospel music. The papers reported on allegations including relations to late televangelist TB Joshua, accusations of affairs, drug history, smoking and his alcohol habits as well as his ongoing fights with his record labels. He was soon black listed but fortunately he has made a turn around after all that. He has overcome and putting his life back together again.
Sechaba Tells All In His Interviews
He sat with Drum Magazine, SABC News and David Mashabela podcast recently and this brought a lot of attention on the business side of the gospel music industry. Sechaba claimed the record labels told him that he could not get all his money because he owes the company after misguidedly signing the rigged contracts.
Sechaba sat with Snazo Notho, David Mashabela and Tshegofatso for interviews where he spoke in detail sharing about his struggles, faith journey and his bid to resuscitate his career. Sechaba’s gospel music career was put on hold for about 5 years due to these various challenges. He even mentioned that after Covid-19 pandemic he even lost his house, his cars and got separate with his wife in the process.
Sechaba lamented in the interviews saying โArtists are always blamed for misusing money, and as an artist, you end up not making new music because of these contracts.โ He says he worked with people he trusted in the gospel music industry and some were also gospel artists but according to him they all disappointed him when it comes to money.
โI am not happy because even as an artist we make most of our money when we perform and people, my fellow artist are spreading rumors’ about me that hinders me from getting bookedโ , said Sechaba speaking to Drum Magazine.
โI have been blocked before and now people spread rumors’ that I am dead while I am sitting at my house. I feel like I am being attacked,โ says Sechaba.
After sharing all that he has been through, Sechababa is eager to sing for people again, record new music and dedicate it to all those people who kept on supporting him during his hard time.