Bad Boy Reborn

Gospel star Sechaba Pali has been through hell, but he says God is opening doors for him again.

- Ruwaydah Harris

REBIRTH: it’s a fitting title for the latest album from the bad boy of gospel – a celebration of the croo­ner’s career revival after a dark five­year stretch that saw him convicted of raping a teenager and accused of fathering her child.

He was also the victim of a hijacking, got divorced and parted ways with his record label. But Sechaba Pali wants us to know he’s back, the past is behind him and he’s raring to go again.

The 36­-year-­old grins broadly as he grabs a copy of his latest CD from a cabinet in the lounge of his modest home in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni. The al­ bum is a reflection on his life, he says – it represents his fresh start.

He’s had to go back to the drawing board after splitting from Bula Music and started his own label, Mosa Pali Productions, which is releasing his new CD this month in partnership with Lethela Entertainment.

His issues with his former record label weren’t about money problems, the award­winning singer insists. “I don’t care about money. You don’t have to give me money, but have respect for what I do and who I do it for.”

He says trust was broken and claims he still hasn’t received the royalties he is due – but he’s moved on and Bula has “got what it deserved”.

Sechaba tells us about a dream he had regarding Bula Music years back. In the dream he got the message that “God would destroy that building so that He could take me where He wants me to be. Look what happened to Bula!”

The record company was acquired by Gallo in 2014 – and Sechaba is now doing things for himself.

He doesn’t expect to rake in any awards for Rebirth, the Sama winner adds. And that’s just fine. “Awards change you. You become big­headed and jealous. I don’t sing for awards. I sing for souls.”