Blind East London-based gospel musician Lunga Tshatshela is calling on the public to help him raise funds so he can finally pursue formal music training and take a step closer to building a music school for others like him.
The 32-year-old singer, originally from Mthatha, was partially blinded in childhood after a freak accident and later lost his remaining sight in 2015 after being stabbed in the eye.
Despite these setbacks, he has continued to chase his dream of a music career, recording several albums and relocating to East London in 2023 to immerse himself in the local music scene.
“Being blind is really pulling me back because as an artist, I rarely get booked because of my disability,” he said.
Tshatshela said his main hurdle was funding.
Though he has been accepted at the Legends Creative Hub for piano and music lessons, the R1,100 monthly fee is out of reach for him and his unemployed family.
“I recently got an offer to go and learn how to play the piano, but the classes cost about R1,100 per month, which I won’t be able to afford to pay for because I am currently unemployed and also no-one in my family is currently employed,” he said.
He believes the skills he would gain from formal piano lessons would significantly boost his chances of getting booked.
“If I could afford to get these [piano] lessons, I know it will be a great advantage on my side as there are plenty of music hubs around the metro that book pianists,” he said.
Tshatshela has released several albums over the years, with his debut offering having been released in 2017.
He is currently working on his next album, which is expected to drop in spring.
“Now we are just mixing and mastering,” he said.
He and local gospel and Afro-soul artist Bunono Mxokwana also plan to release a collaborative single in August, which they premiered at Mxokwana’s Live Music Dinner event earlier in 2025.
Mxokwana, who has taken Tshatshela under his wing, described him as a resilient and gifted artist.
“The first time I heard about Lunga was on the radio when I used to hear his songs on Umhlobo Wenene FM,” he said.
“Then he reached out, asking me to assist him with his music career.”
Mxokwana has consistently included Tshatshela in his event line-ups and helped him secure media exposure and radio interviews.
“I understood his background and saw that many people didn’t book him because of his disability, but I believed in his talent.”
He said they had approached several potential sponsors, including a food retailer and business-person, but had yet to receive a response.
Tshatshela hopes sharing his story will inspire businesses or individuals to support him — whether financially or in-kind — and help him get the training he needs to give back through music.
“I came to East London to learn more about the music business,” he said.
“I’m just asking for help so I can grow and one day help others like me.”
Daily Dispatch
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