Last night we attended singer and actress Kelly Khumalo’s Up, Close and Personal With, at the Lyric Theatre in Gold Reef City. The event was a musical detailing Kelly Khumalo’s life from when she was a singer at church, up to the perfect/imperfect superstar that we know her to be.
In keeping up with the title of the show, Kelly shared some really personal moments of her family and life with slain Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa.
In a teary moment, not only for Kelly whose voice was audibly shaken, but for the audience too, Kelly painted a vivid image of the night that the father of her baby girl was allegedly murdered.
She related the events of the night and how after Senzo was shot, he ran into her arms. “I thought Senzo was running to me to protect me from the thugs but as I held him, I realised he was bleeding and that he was shot,” said Kelly.
“We obviously all rushed to get him to hospital. At the hospital, as they tried to save his life, I found a private space where I prayed the longest prayer of my life until I ran out of words of to say to God. And then, I heard my mother cry the loudest cry… and then I knew Senzo was gone,” said Kelly.
As Kelly continued to share such private moments of Senzo’s last hours, the audience were visibly shaken yet equally comforting of Kelly and screams of “Kelly we love you,” could be heard among the audience.
As Kelly detailed what happened on the night of Senzo’s alleged murder, the audience were all quiet. Although the musical instruments kept providing background music, one could most arguably hear a pin drop.
Kelly also shared her last picture with Senzo which she shared on Instagram on that fateful 2014 day. “I want to share something special with you guys,” continued Kelly. She then played a video of Senzo singing Asine.
Kelly said as much as the Orlando Pirate fans lost their most favourite goalkeeper, her daughter lost her father and she lost her number one fan.
Kelly then said she is surprised to hear of #WanyaTsotsi yet people who killed Senzo are still at large. She continued to say although there was a cap on the crime scene left by one of the alleged killers, nothing has been done to secure DNA from the cap.
To close off the chapter of the details, she aptly performed Asine as a way to pay tribute to Senzo Meyiwa.
She then performed some of her hits on stage and she featured NaaqmusiQ, Thami of 2016 #IdolsSA fame and her sister among others. Her son with Jub Jub and daughter with Senzo also shared the stage with Kelly in the finale performance just before the curtain closed.
Pictures courtesy of Madime Photography