When Mahalia Buchanan released Redeemed to Worship in 2015, the supremely confident debut announced the arrival of an artist who had been honing her talents since childhood. Born into a Johannesburg family for whom God and song were practically everything, Buchanan began singing in church at age six. After a stint in Pastor Benjamin Dube’s choir in the 2000s, she joined the youth-oriented Joyous Celebration, one of South Africa’s premier ensembles. Both experiences enabled Buchanan to learn from gospel heavyweights while cultivating her fusion of American-inspired contemporary gospel with traditions rooted in her Mzansi heritage. They also exposed South African audiences to her glorious voice: as fragile as butterfly wings yet capable of powerfully soaring notes, like those she nails on the 2020 anthem “You Fight for Me”. That voice has made Buchanan an in-demand featured vocalist as well: in addition to appearing on a slew of popular numbers, including Nigerian pastor Nathaniel Bassey’s sublime “You Are Holy”, she has shared stages with internationally renowned stars like New York minister Donnie McClurkin.