Brenda Fassie

Brenda Nokuzola Fassie was born in Langa, a township near Cape Town, on the 3 November 1964. She died on 26 April 2004

Her name was derived from the American country music singer Brenda Lee. Brenda began singing at a very young age to the accompaniment of her mother, and by the time she was five, tourists were paying to hear her sing. At this point, she already had her first band, Tiny Tots. She was about 16 years old when renowned producer Koloi Lebona visited the Fassie's Langa home after a number of Cape Town musicians told him about her. In confirming their high regard for Brenda, Lebona stated that her voice was very mature for her age and was 'the voice of the future.'

She won five South African Music Awards: Best Female Artist and Song of the Year in 1999, Best-Selling Release of the Decade and Best Song of the Decade in 2004, and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005. She also won three Kora Awards: Most Promising Female Artist of Africa and Best Female Artist of Africa in 1996, and the Jury Special Award in 2001. She was voted 17th in the Top 100 Great South Africans.