Bio
Khaya Mthethwa is a South African tenor singer and musician best known for winning the eighth season of the M-Net reality singing competition Idols, in 2012, becoming the first black winner of the show.
He is also known for being a member of the gospel group Joyous Celebration.
The son of two pastors, Khaya was born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. His parents started their church in the family living room and he grew up sharing his home with strangers as his parents took people in.
After graduating from high school he wanted to pursue a career in music but his parents were opposed to a career in the arts so he studied project management at Varsity College instead.
Before long he had joined the gospel outfit Joyous Celebration as a singer and musician and in 2012 auditioned for Idols. He was crowned the eighth winner of the show - and the first black winner - when he beat Port Elizabeth singer Melissa Allison in the finale on 2 October, 2012.
He is a serious drummer and a self-taught percussionist, keyboard player, guitarist, composer and church music director. He has shared the stage with artists like Mthunzi Namba, Israel USA, Thulani Shezi, Joyous Celebration and Ntokozo Mbambo, among others.
Khaya released his first single, "Move", the day after Idols ended and his first album, "For You", on 19 November 2012, four days after being announced as the choirmaster for KwaZulu-Natal for the Mzansi Magic reality competition Clash of the Choirs South Africa, which aired in 2013. He went on to win the series with the 20-person choir he mentored.
In late 2013 he began hosting the Mzansi Magic religious music talk show Gospel Alive.
On 21 May 2017 he started hosting the BET gospel show Rhythm and Gospel and on 25 June 2017 he debuted as the host of SABC1's Sunday morning gospel show Gospel Avenue.