Mahalia Buchanan

When Mahalia Buchanan released Redeemed to Worship in 2015, the supremely confident debut announced the arrival of an artist who had been honing her talents since childhood. Born into a Johannesburg family for whom God and song were practically everything, Buchanan began singing in church at age six. After a stint in Pastor Benjamin Dube’s choir in the 2000s, she joined the youth-oriented Joyous Celebration, one of South Africa’s premier ensembles. Both experiences enabled Buchanan to learn from gospel heavyweights while cultivating her fusion of American-inspired contemporary gospel with traditions rooted in her Mzansi heritage. They also exposed South African audiences to her glorious voice: as fragile as butterfly wings yet capable of powerfully soaring notes, like those she nails on the 2020 anthem “You Fight for Me”. That voice has made Buchanan an in-demand featured vocalist as well: in addition to appearing on a slew of popular numbers, including Nigerian pastor Nathaniel Bassey’s sublime “You Are Holy”, she has shared stages with internationally renowned stars like New York minister Donnie McClurkin.