‘We need healing’ — Buhle Mda announces prayer session for the industry

Musician Buhle Mda used three words to describe her upcoming prayer session for the entertainment industry. 

She said it was a church, a revival and a summons to the ancestors and God. 

She announced on her Instagram that she will hold a prayer session at For Art Sake Creative Hub on March 22. The space can only accommodate 100 people who need to RSVP for entrance. 

Speaking to TshisaLIVE, Buhle explained what birthed the decision to have a prayer session.

“It is clear to see that there is an energy, something that feels familiar, like the Covid-19 pandemic. There was a point where we started losing a lot of people and kwa boniswa emoyeni kuthi it is important for us to come together and call out to who and whatever we pray to and put our heads together and pray for our country, continent and the world. I feel like the same kind of prayers are needed for what we are seeing as a wipeout, especially in the entertainment industry.”

She said difficult and honest conversations need to be had in the world of showbiz.

“There is this wave of darkness that we absolutely need to talk about and I understand  there are a lot of things that we run away from talking about when it comes to the entertainment industry. We go around pretending we have everything put together, we are rich and famous and our lives are great whereas there are issues that are underlying that we don't have a platform to talk about because most of the time we are meant to be role models to the children whereas we also have stuff we go through.

“Unfortunately we are in an industry or space where we can't honestly confess that you know what ngiya gowa and we are running away from the fact that umgowo o wethu sonke."

Buhle said the session was a call for her to practice her healing space and the intention is not to make it an event.

“For me this is not something I want to trend. This is a revelation that came to me literally when I heard about Sis Gloria's passing and it was like a burning urge in me that I need to do something more than just #RIP so and so. For me, it was more of a call to practice my healing space and open my healing space to other healers where we can come together in one room, physically, and shout out every pain that is within us and take it out on that day. I'm not making this an event and I don't want people to see it like that. This is not an event, this is a platform.”

She said she and her partner  are organising the prayer and called on people to assist. 

“I'm calling out to anyone who can assist me, because it's just me and my partner. I'm calling out to people to also assist where they can when it comes to water, refreshments. anything you can bring to the space. Also if you can bring chairs because the space is empty and are doing floor sitting . If you feel like you can sponsor with chairs please bring chairs. Anything you can bring to  make the space convenient for all of us. At the end of the day the aim is to spread healing because that's what we need in this industry.”