Mmatema Moremi, a talented gospel singer, was born and raised in Zebeidelia, Limpopo, by her parents, Disego Moremi and Lucky Moraila. Even at the age of five, she was already showcasing her singing skills during morning prayer sessions at her preschool assembly. However, she did not know that her voice would eventually touch thousands of people.
It was during her time at Dereke Kobe Secondary School that people started telling her that she could sing. At age 10, she hijacked a performing band, took the microphone, and sang to a live audience at a local event in Zebediela.
Word spread quickly, and soon she was being booked for weddings, birthdays, and other local events. Her parents were not supportive of her pursuing a singing career. It wasn’t until she went to Tshwane University of Technology (T.U.T) for her B-Tech degree in Applied Languages/Linguistics that she joined the Reflex Raise choir.
In 2014, Mmatema joined the Tshwane Gospel Choir, one of the most prominent gospel choirs in Tshwane. The choir composed a song for the “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign, which aimed to get the female students who were kidnapped from Government Secondary School in Borno State, Nigeria, back home. Mmatema’s harmonies and melodies in the song touched many hearts and encouraged the nation to keep the girls in their prayers.
Mmatema auditioned for the ninth, tenth, and eleventh seasons of South African Idols. Although she was initially rejected, she wowed the judges with her rendition of Demi Lovato’s “Skyscraper” during the theatre week of the eleventh season. On November 22, 2015, she lost the ultimate prize of being named South African Idol.
Despite not winning the competition, Mmatema signed her first recording contract with Universal Music South Africa. However, she parted ways with the label to pursue a career in gospel music through her company, Mmatema Moremi Media Productions (Pty) Ltd. Today, she is one of South Africa’s most celebrated gospel musicians, known for her soulful voice and uplifting lyrics that inspire and encourage her listeners.
In the year 2019, Mmatema performed her song on spirit of praise 7. The title of the powerful uplifting, strengthening, encouraging song… is Make a way.
