#ThobelaThursday: Brenda Fassie. The Queen of African Pop.

Announcements.

1. We will not be able to post every single hit in her 24 year career so I did my best to compile the biggest hits.
2. We will not be going into detail on her controversies and scandals unless it's directly linked to the music
3. Enjoy and follow me

The story starts with a 13 year old Brenda running away from home Jhb. After being discovered and trained by Gibson Kente in 1981 she joins the group Joy after their lead singer falls pregnant.

Joy had just released a 9 week at number 1 freedom anthem called Paradise Road.

In 1983 she strikes the attention of Blondie and Pappa. They ask her to be part of a group later named Brenda & The Big Dudes.

Their first single breaks every sales record in South African music history and crossover on white radio. The song is Weekend Special.

The B-side to Weekend Special is a ballad the group wrote to showcase the vocal ability of the 18 year old.

At a time when segregation in South Africa was still law, Brenda and The Big Dudes had two hits in the townships and the white discos.

1985 the group releases Higher. It's another crossover hit for Brenda and the boys.

1985 is also the year Brenda and one of her bandmates have a child together, it's unclear which one of the bandmates it was but who cares because the hits are still coming.

This is Touch Somebody (My mothers favorite song).

1986 they release their 4th number Springbok radio number 1. The Kings and Queen of Bubblegum music at this point the group is touring the US and Europe.

1986 also brings the groups second best selling hit since Weekend Special.

The song was Promises (if you don't dance to this, you're dead inside).

At the height of Bubblegum music's popularity, the group was the biggest band in the country selling out stadiums and headlining festivals during the Apartheid Era.

The group decides to disband in 1987 but their last hit together still goes platinum.

Amalahle (still unsure what this song is about but it bangs)

Okay it's 1987 and Brenda is on her own. We won't get into the politics royalties, exploitation and bad contracts that came with her partnership with Ch*co because this is not about him, we'll focus on all the hits and monumental moments from Brenda as an artist

Alright? Good!

1987 Brenda releases her debut album Brenda accompanied by a hood classic about being late for work.

Izola Bud is a mega hit and certifies Brenda as a solo artist.

The 80s were such a great time for her. Ag Shame Lovey is another classic. Shout out to all the blacks that had to do this step at creche.

Brenda would make a name for herself for having at least one huge hit every year.

In 1988 she releases Umuntu Umuntu Ngabantu (tried my best to find the video but I couldn't )

1989 Brenda Fassie releases her biggest hit since Weekend Special.

To Late For Mama an acoustic ode to her mother takes her from the biggest popstar in the country to a cultural icon.

Here's a bonus clip of her performing Too Late in true Brenda fashion.

This is also the year she marries Nhlanhla Mlambo in "the biggest wedding Soweto has ever seen" according to Drum Magazine.

And puts out a cute hit about being a newly wed simply titled "Don't Follow Me I'm Married"

1990 is a complicated year in Brenda history. She gets sued for fraud because of her husband who she divorces after one year of marriage because of alleged physical and mental abuse. This is also the year she allegedly starts heavy drug use.

She's still releasing bops though.

11 February 1990 Nelson Mandela was released from prison after 27 years and as the calls of freedom reverberated throughout the country Brenda Fassie released one of her most iconic singles.

Black President.

By 1991 she's being called the Black Madonna because she wasn't just selling music, she was selling newspapers. Bubblegum music was beginning to lose popularity but Brenda drops Ngiyakusaba which would be her last Bubblegum hit song.

1992 is the year Brenda gets into her Kwaito songstress bag.

Istraight Lendaba is a township banger and help the black Madonna transition into a new Era of music.

1992 during the negotiations for the first democratic elections in SA, IFP supporters attacked a township called Boipatong killing 45 people & maiming many. The massacre caused unrest throughout the country.

Brenda releases a charity single called Boipatong calling for peace.

1993 more mess ensues when Senyaka releases a diss track aimed at Brenda basically confirming she's on drugs and saying she thinks she's better than black men.

Brenda returns the favor with A BANGER!!! Amagents is another annual hit.

1994 she drops Kuyoze Kuvalwa.

This was my late brothers song man.

1995 Brenda's lover Poppy Sihlahla dies of an overdose in bed with Brenda. News of her being a lesbian & an addict scandalizes the country.

Her drug use and inconsistent performances get her music banned throughout townships. From 1995 to 1997 Brenda underperforms commercially.

After coming from rehab to get clean Brenda puts out a couple of gospel records and under achieving albums.

It's not until she completely leaves the Kwaito genre and goes back to making AfroPop that she releases the biggest song and album of her career.

1998's Vulindlela.

At 34 years old Brenda Fassie releases the biggest album on South African history. Memeza sells 500k in SA and over 1 million copies on the continent in one Calander year.

The album and song win Album of the year and song of the year at the SAMAs.

The title track from Memeza is also a classic.

1999 she drops the biggest selling album of the year AGAIN with Nomakanjani. It's crazy to think that this woman was in her mid 30s putting out the biggest records of her career.

2000 she puts out the best selling album of the year again with Amadlozi. The song Thola Madlozi is another smash for the icon.

This is the year she surpassed Lucky Dube as the best selling South African artist ever.

2001 She puts out the album Mina Nawe. Conversations around her drug use started to swirl again because she was apparently not showing up for performances and studio recordings. She puts out a hit she may or may not have actually sang on ( it's clearly Derorah Fraser).

Brenda released her last studio album Mali in 2003. Her last hit was a kwaito bop called My Baby.

April 2004 Brenda Fassie collapsed and went into a coma. She was on life support as the country prayed for the her recovery. Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela and Thabo Mbeki were just some of the names that went to see the Diva in her weeks in hospital.

Brenda Fassie passed away on the 9th of May 2004 at the age of 39 leaving nothing behind but the music and her son Bongani.

That brings us to the end of this journey. Please follow my account and support Bongani Fassie in his musical endeavors.

Here's a bonus clip of two angels Lebo Mathosa and Brenda Fassie performing Too Late For Mama.