Jelly Babie embraces her spiritual calling
South African singer Jelly Babie, real name Karabo Khakhu, has opened up about embracing her spiritual journey while still holding on to her first love, whic is music.
The 19-year-old artist from Mabopane revealed that she has been resisting her ancestral calling for nearly two years but has now accepted it.
Despite this new chapter, she made it clear that her career as a musician will not take a back seat.
“Music is my passion; how can I stop making music? My ancestors know. Music is my other gift,” she told Sunday World.
Known for her hit Jukulyn, Jelly Babie insisted she won’t change her personality or style even as she embarks on her path as a traditional healer.
“I am still young. There is time for everything. I wear my normal clothes and put on make-up and a wig; I am not going to change who I am.”
Reflecting on her journey, the young star explained that everything she has been through, from personal struggles to heartbreak, has led her to this moment.
“All the challenges I faced were because of this. It is starting to make sense,” she added.
Jelly Babie’s life has been marked by both promise and tragedy.
She was only 15 when she started dating Bacardi star Vusi Ma R5, who was tragically gunned down in January 2023 outside a tavern in Soshanguve.
His death left a deep mark on her, eventually pushing her to leave school after facing bullying and pressure from teachers.
“I dropped out of school after Ma R5’s funeral because I was being bullied by other kids at school, and teachers were getting too much into my business. Maybe I will go back [to school]. I just needed to finish this. But my journey is long; it doesn’t end,” she said.
Despite the challenges, including a brief marriage to Koketso Shibambu that ended in under a year, Jelly Babie is determined to rebuild her life on her own terms.