By Tamlyn Canham
Move over Cecilia Bartoli, the Eastern Cape’s Gugulethu Ndendze is the opera world’s newest singing sensation.
The nine-year-old has Mzansi talking after a video of her singing an opera aria went viral online.
She belts out ‘Ave Maria’ by Schubert in the clip. One video shared on Twitter has received more than 23,000 likes.
“I am so moved by her. I just hope she has the support system to nurture her talent and study this ar at university,” one Twitter user wrote.
Another user added: “OMG, u going places Gugsie.”
🎤 9 year old Gugulethu Ndzendze from South Afica sings Ave Maria. What a wonderful talent. Happy Christmas all. 🕊 pic.twitter.com/kRZKTgIwag
— Ben Phillips (@benphillips76) December 11, 2021
Since the clip went viral, scores of people are lining up to interview the East London resident. Some are even begging her to perform at their birthday parties.
Others are hoping she will get a record deal. She is reportedly also set to perform at a music festival in KwaZulu-Natal during the festive season.
Gugulethu’s mother, Fundiswa Mboniswa-Ndzendze, thanked social media users for their support.
“Hello my people I must appreciate the love and support you are giving to Gugulethu,” she wrote on Facebook.
Fundiswa has shared several videos of her daughter’s angelic voice. One video shows Gugulethu singing the soprano aria, ‘O mio babbino caro (Oh my dear Papa)’.
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Music runs in the family
Gugulethu’s father is gospel artist, Bongani Ndzendze. Her sister Ndalo also enjoys singing. Fundiswa shared a clip of Ndalo singing ‘Tomorrow’ from the movie ‘Annie’.
It’s not the first time Gugulethu’s vocals have gone viral. A clip of her singing at a church in September got the attention of ‘The Kids Voice’. Officials from the show, which is a junior version of ‘The Voice’, invited her to audition.
However, the competition is on a break due to COVID-19.
Gugulethu hopes to be a paediatrician and global musician when she grows up.
“I am inspired by Zandile Mzazi who sings classical opera music, Austrian composer Franz Schubert, award-winning Afro-pop singer Simphiwe Dana as well as American singer-songwriter Tori Kelly,” she told IOL in an interview.
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Pint-sized Gugulethu Ndzendze has a voice so pure and powerful it has moved many to tears. Here she performs O mio babbino caro for Dispatch readers. Video: Randell Roskruge pic.twitter.com/qBb26LHKRK
— Dispatch AFRICA (@africa_dispatch) September 18, 2021



