Mthandazo Gatya celebrates 14 years of sobriety – “For me, drinking was a habit”

Mthandazo Gatya. Photo: Instagram

During this month when many are raising awareness about the importance of mental health, multi-award winning singer Mthandazo Gatya is celebrating 14 years since his decision to quit alcohol.

In conversation with the entertainment publication, Daily sunshineThe triple platinum certified artist revealed that he was glad he made the conscious decision to save himself, as he believed that if he continued, it could have ruined his life.

He shared that he was exposed to alcohol from a young age and that other members of his family all used alcohol. This later led him to experiment, and by the 9th grade he was already drinking heavily.

“My family didn’t know I was a drunk. At the time, I looked at myself and where I started, I felt like my alcohol abuse would determine my future. I needed to break the curse.

THE Senzeni The hitmaker says his decision to quit came years later, when he was 24. At that point, he felt like he was just too immersed in this matter and feared that if he continued, it could have destroyed his life.

“Drinking seemed like a habit I had to break because a lot of people in my family had lost everything to alcohol. My father included.

“When I told my friends about it, they thought I was joking. I was also trying to prove something to them that I could stop. This also helped me, so it wasn’t the hardest part. I don’t remember a single day when I felt the need for alcohol,” he explained.

He says that while everyone’s experience of sobriety may be different, one thing is certain: You can’t use alcohol as a source of happiness.

Although he may have been in the industry for a while, the singer’s career skyrocketed in 2022, after he shared a video of himself participating in John Legend’s #OpenVerseChallenge of his song. Nervous. This then led to him being asked to perform his rendition of the song alongside John Legend himself.

@mthandazogatya #duet with @John Legend #nervous #johnlegend #openversechallenge #fytシ ♬ Nervous – John Legend

See also: Mthandazo Gatya behind-the-scenes moments with John Legend