Remembering Brenda Fassie, the Queen of African Pop whose music still lives on.
Brenda was born in Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦 in 1964, where she was raised by her mother after her father passed away when she was two. At a tender age, she started earning money by singing to tourists, while her mother, a pianist, played alongside. Brenda climbed her way to the top, beginning as the lead singer in a group called “Brenda and The Big Dudes”, and eventually branching off as a solo artist.

 

Brenda became well known for her “outrageousness” on stage and was sometimes referred to as the “Black Madonna”. Some of her greatest hits include “Vuli Ndlela”, “Black President”, “Nomakanjani?”, “I’m sorry Mama” and more. Most of her albums went on to become multi-platinum sellers in South Africa.
She died in 2004 at the age of 39 after losing consciousness at a hospital in South Africa.
Despite all the controversies surrounding her personal life, Brenda was a trailblazer in the African music industry. She was a musical genius who constantly reinvented herself and always gave fans around the world something special to look forward to. More importantly, she was a revolutionary who lent her voice to important social issues in her country and went on to inspire many people. Her impact on African music is undeniable and her work will continue to impact generations for years to come.