Judith Sephuma (born 29 June 1974) is a multiple-award-winning South African singer. Dubbed as the queen of Afro Jazz, she has impressed the world with her talent. She is best known for her platinum-status-selling gospel album The Experience Live in Concert.
The singer has performed in Germany, Europe, the USA, and the United Kingdom. She has continued to gain the love of Jazz, afro-soul, and gospel music lovers.
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| Background Information | |
| Full name: | Judith Sephuma |
| Born: | 29 June 1974 (age 49 years old) |
| Place of birth: | Polokwane, Limpopo |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Education: | Music |
| Alma mater: | University of Cape Town |
| Occupation: | Singer |
| Instruments: | Vocals |
| Genre: | Jazz , afro-soul, gospel |
| Spouse: | Selaelo Selota (ex.) Siphiwe Mhlambi (div.) |
| Children: | 5 |
| Website: | www.judithsephumamusic.com |
Early Life
Judith Sephuma was born on 29 June 1974 in Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg), Limpopo. She grew up in Polokwane and knew she wanted to be a singer from an early age. The songstress relocated to Cape Town in 1994.
Education
Sephuma matriculated at Khagiso High School. She obtained a Grade 5 Music Diploma from FUBA Academy Music School, Johannesburg.
Judith studied music (with a Performer’s Diploma in Jazz) at the University of Cape Town in 1997. She also holds an Honours Degree in Jazz Performance, majoring in Jazz Singing. Virginia Davids classically trained her for five years while she studied Jazz.
Career
Judith Sephuma has been in the music industry for many years. She has her name imprinted on many achievements. She reached the finals of Shell Road to Fame contest in 1994 and made it to the finals in SABC’s Jam Alley Search For Talent.
While in Cape, she worked in bands like (fellow UCT music student) Selaelo Selota’s Taola, Meropa, UCT’s Big Band, The C-Base Collective, and The Cape Symphonic Orchestra.
Spencer invited her to travel on the Symphony cruise ship for two months in 1996. They visited Bazaruto, Mauritius, Zanzibar, Mombasa, and Reunion.
The guitar maestro Jimmy Dludlu invited her to perform at Thabo Mbeki’s presidential inauguration in Pretoria in June 1999. She met and performed for President Nelson Mandela, singing a song to him and his wife, Graca Machel.
In 2012, the songstress traveled to Addis Ababa to perform for heads of state. She traveled to Washington DC, USA, to perform for heads of state in 2014. She is an ambassador of the One Campaign.
Judith sang at the Miss SA beauty pageant in Sun City. She received the first prize for Best Jazz Vocalist at the Old Mutual Jazz Into The Future competition in June 1999. Judith formed her backing band and performed under her name at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town in 2000.
Sephuma dropped her triple platinum-status-selling debut album – A Cry, A Smile, A Dance – in 2001. She has worked and shared the stage with international artists.
Personal Life
Judith Sephuma was previously married to Selaelo Selota. She later married the photographer Siphiwe Mhlambi. Their marriage did not last after she divorced him in 2016.
Sephuma is a mother of five children. She had two children with Siphiwe and three with her first husband, Selaelo Selota. She lost her three-month-old daughter, whom she had with Mhlambi, to illness.
Gospel Songs
- Ke Sikiloe Ke Jesu
- Tlo Moya O Halalelang
- Nzulu Ye Mfihlakalo
- Naa Ke Bomang
- Siyakudumisa
- Mme Motswadi
- Ke Se Ke Utloile
- Through It All
- You Had Your Hand on Me
- Oh Give Thanks
- A Cry, a Smile, a Dance
- You Had Your Hand
- Here I am to Worship
- Jehova Wa Israel
- Kwazi Bani
- Are You Still There
- My Worship
- Mmangwane
- Surely
- Maropeng
- I Remember
- Semphete Wena Ya Ratehang
- My Saviour
- Holy Spirit
- Naka Di A Lela
- Le Tshephile Mang
- Palesa
- Lerato La Pelo Yaka
- Iya Iyo
- Can’t Let Go
- Ngisize Nkosi
- We Worship Him
- God of the Universe
- Do It Lord
- Held Me Up
- Oh Give Thanks
- Jehova Moren’a Rona
- Lekunutung
- Mary Did You Know
- Ke A Leboga
- You Reign Enternally
- Dance
- Tseleng
- Pray
- Ke Sikiloe Ke Jesu…Reprise
- You Stole My Heart Away
- I Want You
- Jesus Is Lord
- Le A Falala
- The Gratitude Song
- Lerato La Pelo Ya Ka
Weight loss
Judith Sephuma achieves her wellness through dedication and focus. She starts her day with a skipping rope and has a group of women with whom she works out.
Sephuma includes boxing, swimming, leg day, stairs, and running in her workout regimen to mix things up. She is keeping the weight off and has inspired many through her weight loss journey.