She is identical to Brenda Fassie, her grandmother, and she also inherited her style, beauty, and talent. Gemma Fassie, a singer and songwriter, only recently discovered that she was related to the legendary Vuli Ndlela singer.

GOING VIRAL

People learned about the young star after Brenda’s son Bongani Fassie posted a video of her on social media. “Bongani is my uncle because Brenda was my grandfather’s sister,” she told DJ Keyes during an interview on Kaya 959. People asked me to repost a video that I had posted on my stories. It was up for thirty minutes. I posted it again because I dislike watching myself sing. Bongani shocked me and reposted it.” She was shocked when the video went viral. She was only about six years old when Brenda Fassie passed away, but she has heard stories about how much they resembled one another in appearance and mannerisms. When Gemma was years old, she began singing in church. Robyn Fassie, her brother, has been playing in the Cape Coons (Kaapse Klopse) band for as long as she can remember. He studied music, traveled, and has been her biggest inspiration.

POWER IN A NAME

Gemma claims that now that she is in the mainstream, she is only beginning to comprehend the significance of the Fassie surname. She initially went by the names Gemma and Gem. After receiving encouragement from a friend, she made the decision to use her actual surname, Fassie. I must comprehend the significance of the surname and Brenda-like appearance; I cannot see it, but I recognize people. I’ve seen pictures of her, but is it really like that?” Gemma is greeted by numerous individuals who comment on her striking resemblance to the late legend, who passed away in May 2004 following an asthma attack that began in April at home and resulted in heart failure and brain damage. Gemma sings contemporary music, in contrast to the Afo-pop star.