Singer and songwriter Simphiwe Dana has opened up about the deep pain and betrayal she has experienced over the past few years. The star shared an emotional message on Instagram, saying she feels angry and hurt because people she trusted have stolen from her.
“I’m actually getting madder by the moment,” she wrote. “I know I bring genius things. For the past five years, I’ve been stolen from. And my people have been a part of it. I’m tired. The betrayal is painful.”
This message comes shortly after Dana marked a big milestone—20 years since her first album Zandisile was released. While the celebration was special, she admitted that she is still going through a very difficult time in her life.
According to The Citizen, in press statements last month, she said: “The celebration of Simphiwe Dana’s 20-year career comes at the tail-end of a tumultuous era in my life, but it’s still a nice thing to point at as something to celebrate. Fulfilment is not the right word, but it’s the best word I can think of right now. I feel this really grounded sense of accomplishment.”
To honour her 20-year music journey, Dana held two special performances—one at the Playhouse Theatre in Durban and another at the Baxter Theatre Concert Hall in Cape Town.
Looking back at how she started, Dana reflected on how she always knew she brought something different to the music scene.
“I knew I looked different, I sounded different, and the songs I wanted to sing were different,” she said.
“I thought I was telling people, ‘Make way, something different is coming,’ but in hindsight, I was telling all of our stories about what it means to affirm yourself—because the world will always tell you that you’re supposed to be something else.”
