Kelly Khumalo finds strength in ‘Rebirth’ – her most honest album yet

KELLY Khumalo’s eleventh studio album, Rebirth, which was released on Friday, runs for 38 minutes and consists of nine songs that explore love, faith, perseverance and spiritual renewal.

- LUTHO PASIYA

KELLY Khumalo's Rebirth, explores love, faith, perseverance and spiritual renewal. I Instagram

(Instagram)

Itis a deeply personal body of work that reflects a woman who has faced pain, embraced transformation and found peace through faith.

The album opens with Nganeno, a heartfelt song about love and healing. When Khumalo sings, Awu ngicela usondele nganeno / Ngihleze ngawe ngiphulukiswe, meaning “Please come closer / Let me be healed by your presence,’ she speaks to both romantic and spiritual intimacy.

The song feels like a gentle embrace, expressing gratitude for love that restores and strengthens. It is tender and melodic, setting the emotional tone for the rest of the project.

Izibusiso, meaning “Blessings”, moves from sorrow to hope. Khumalo reflects on a time when her life was filled with pain and anger, but she now feels renewed and grateful.

Impilo yami yonke igcwele usizi nolaka, she sings, “My life was full of sorrow and anger.” Yet the song celebrates the presence of divine blessings that continue to guide her, turning darkness into light. It captures a spiritual awakening - an acknowledgment that even in emptiness, grace can be found.