Brenda Fassie whose full name is Brenda Nokuzola Fassie was born on the 3rd of November 1964 in Langa, Cape Town in South Africa.
She died on the 9th of May 2004. She was an anti-apartheid Afropop singer. Her musical career began at an early age since her mother was a pianist she started singing for tourist at an early age.
In 1981 at the age of 16, she joined the vocal group Joy (filling in for one of the members who was on maternity leave) and later became the lead singer for a township music group called Brenda and the Big Dudes.
Around 1991 when he divorced her husband she became addicted to cocaine and had a set back in her career.
In 1995 she was discovered in a hotel with the body of her female lover, Poppie Sihlahla, who had died because of an apparent overdose. She underwent rehabilitation and got her career back on track.
From 1996 she released several solo albums, including Now, Is the Time, Memeza (1997), and Nomakanjani?.
Most of her albums became multi-platinum sellers in South Africa; Memeza was the best-selling album in South Africa in 1998.
Brenda Fassie Albums
- 1987: Ag Shame Lovey
- 1988: Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu
- 1989: Too Late for Mama
- 1989: Brenda
- 1990: Black President
- 1991: I Am Not a Bad Girl
- 1992: Yo Baby
- 1994: Brenda Fassie
- 1995: Mama
- 1996: Now Is the Time
- 1997: Memeza
- 1997: Paparazzi
- 1999: Nomakanjani
- 2000: Thola Amadlozi
- 2001: Brenda: The Greatest Hits
- 2002: Myekeleni
- 2003: Mali
- 2003: The Remix Collection
- 2004: Gimme Some Volume
Brenda Fassie Songs
- Vuli Ndlela
- Black President
- Nomakanjani
- Too Late For Mama
- Weekend Special
- Mama I’m Sorry
- Mpundulu
- Ag shame lovey
- Sum’ Bulala
- Thola Amadlozi
- Soon and Very Soon
- Nakupenda
- Hara Lebitla
- Ngiyakusaba
- Good Black Woman
- Wedding Day
- Touch Somebody
- Life is going on
- Boipatong
- Mina Ngohlala Ngi Nje
- Kenang Bohle
- Memeza
- Ponci Ponci
- Mama
- Qula
- Amagents
- Hamba Sathane
- I Straight Le Ndaba
- Higher & Higher
- Bongani
- Umuntu Ngumuntu Ngabantu
- Ngeke Umconfirm
Brenda Fassie Death
Fassie collapsed at her home in Buccleuch, Gauteng on the morning of 26 April 2004, and was admitted into a hospital in Sunninghill.
The press was informed that she had suffered cardiac arrest but later reported that she had slipped into a coma brought on by an asthma attack.
It was later revealed by post-mortem report that she had taken an overdose of cocaine on the night of her collapse, and this was the cause of her coma. She stopped breathing and suffered brain damage due to lack of oxygen.
Brenda Fassie Son
In 1985 she got a son, named Bongani Fassie, of a fellow Big Dudes musician.
Brenda Fassie Vuli Ndlela
[Verse 1]
Vul’ indlela weMaMgobhozi
He unyana wam
Helele uyashada namhlanje
Vul’ indlela wena MaNyauza
Suba nomona
Unyana wami uthathile
Bengingazi ngiyombon’ umakoti
Wonyana wam
Eh ujongile this time
MaRadebe suk’ eyingxoxweni
Uzemshadweni siyashadisa namhlanje
Bebesithi unyana wam ulisoka
Bebesithi angeke ashade
Vul’ indlela
[Verse 2]
Vul’ indlela weMaMgobhozi
He unyana wam
Helele uyashada namhlanje
Vul’indlela wena MaNyauza
Suba nomona
Unyana wami uthathile
Bengingazi ngiyombon’ umakoti
Wonyana wam
Eh ujongile this time
MaRadebe suk’ eyingxoxweni
Uzemshadweni siyashadisa namhlanje
Bebesithi unyana wam ulisoka
Bebesithi angeke ashade
[Chorus]
Vul’ indlela we MaMgobhozi
Vul’ indlela yekela umona
Vul’ indlela we MaMgobhozi
Vul’ indlela yekela umona
[Verse 3]
Kodwa wena MaNgobese
Hey unomona
Ngoba awunanyana
Unentombi zodwa
Ayoyoyo MaNgobese
Hee unomona ngoba
Hee awunaye unyana onjengowami
Bengingazi ngiyombon’ umakoti
Wonyana wam eh ujongile this time
MaRadebe suk’ eyingxoxweni
Uzemshadweni siyashadisa namhlanje
Bebesithi unyana wam ulisoka
Bebesithi angeke ashade
[Chorus]
Vul’ indlela we MaMgobhozi
Vul’ indlela yekela umona
Vul’ indlela we MaMgobhozi
Vul’ indlela yekela umona
Vul’ indlela we MaMgobhozi
Vul’ indlela yekela umona
Vul’ indlela we MaMgobhozi
Vul’ indlela yekela umona
Vul’ indlela wena MaNyauza
Suba nomona
Unyana wami uthathile
Vul’ indlela wena MaNyauza
Suba nomona
Unyana wami uthathile
Vul’ indlela we MaMgobhozi
Vul’ indlela yekela umona
Vul’ indlela we MaMgobhozi
Vul’ indlela yekela umona
Vul’ indlela we MaMgobhozi
Vul’ indlela yekela umona
Vul’ indlela we MaMgobhozi
Vul’ indlela
Brenda Fassie Nomakanjani
[Chorus]
Nomakanjani we dali wam’
Ngeke ngikushiye
Siyofa silahlane
Nomakanjani we dali wam’
Ngeke ngikushiye
Siyofa silahlane
[Verse 1]
Noma bekuthuka
Bathi awugezi
Unuk’ umlomo
Ngikuthanda unjalo
Nomakanjani
[Chorus]
Nomakanjani we dali wam’
Ngeke ngikushiye
Siyofa silahlane
Nomakanjani we dali wam’
Ngeke ngikushiye
Siyofa silahlane
[Verse 2]
Noma bengithuka
Bethi nginuk’umlomo
Ehh dali wami ungithanda kunjalo
Kunjalo kunjalo ehh kunjalo
Ungithanda kunjalo
[Bridge]
Nomakanjani nomakanjani
Nomakanjani
Sondela sthandwa sami
Sondela sweety lami
Ohh ngisho ngayo ikhanda lami el’khulu yo
[Bride 2]
Nomakanjani
Nomakanjani
Nomakanjani
Nomakanjani
[Chorus]
Nomakanjani we dali wam’
Ngeke ngikushiye
Siyofa silahlane
Nomakanjani we dali wam’
Ngeke ngikushiye
Siyofa silahlane
[Verse 3]
Noma bekuthuka
Bethi umubi
Unekhand’ elikhulu
Ngikuthanda unjalo
Noma bekuthuka
Bathi awugezi
Unuk’ umlomo
Ngikuthanda unjalo
Brenda Fassie Too Late For Mama
[Verse 1]
Ten kilometers barefooted in the bush
Started raining on the way to fetch some water
Poor woman had a baby on her back
Was struck by lightning on her way
To fetch some water
She tried hiding under a tree to save her child
Poor woman had no place to go
Lightning caught her with her baby on her back
Friends, relatives ran for her
[Chorus]
It was too late
It was too late
Too late for mama
Oh no
[Verse 2]
Husband came running to the scene yeah
Poor man held his dead wife in his arms
Eyes full of tears, not believing the nightmare
Knelt down and prayed for this, was a painful loss
[Chorus]
It was too late
Too late for mama
Oh mama mama, oh poor mama
It was too late
Too late
[Verse 3]
She tried hiding under the tree to save her child
Poor woman had no place to hide
Lightning caught her with her baby on her back
Friends, relatives ran for her
But it was too late, too late for mama
[Chorus]
Too late
Too late for mama
Oh mama mama
Oh poor mama
It was too late
Too late
Too late for mama… oh mama
Mama with the little baby
She’s gone
She’s gone
She’s gone
Oh poor mama
It was too late
Brenda Fassie Black President
The year 1963
The people’s president
Was taken away by security men
All dressed in a uniform
The brutality, brutality
Oh no, my, my black president
Him and his comrades
Were sentenced to isolation
For many painful years
For many painful years
Many painful years
Of hard labor
They broke rocks
But the spirit was never broken
Never broken
Oh no, my, my black president
Hmm maa, hmm maa, hmm ma mama
Hmm maa, hmm maa, hmm ma mama
Hmm maa, hmm maa, hmm ma Madiba
Hmm maa, hmm maa, hmm ma Madiba
Ahh uyem-yem
They broke rocks
But the spirit was never broken
Never broken
Oh my black president
Let us rejoice for our president
Let us sing for our president
Let us pray for our president
Let us sing, let us dance
For Madiba, Madiba’s freedom
Now in 1990
The people’s president
Came out from jail
Raised up his hand and said
“Viva, viva, my people”
He walked the long road
Back, back to freedom
Back to freedom
Freedom for my black president
Let us rejoice for our president
Let us sing for our president
Let us pray for our president
Let us sing, let us dance
For Madiba, Madiba’s freedom
We thank You Lord
For listening to our prayers
Oh, my president
I will die for my president
I will sing for my president
I will stand and say
Viva, viva, viva, viva, viva, viva my president
Brenda Fassie Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Brenda Fassie when she died?
- She was 39 years old (1964 – 2004)
How did Brenda Fassie die?
- She died as a result of a Cocaine overdose
When did Brenda Fassie die?
- She died on the 9th of May 2004
Where is Brenda Fassie from?
- She is from Langa, Cape Town
Who was Brenda Fassie married to?
- She was married to Nhlanhla Mbambo from 1989 to 1991
Where was Brenda Fassie buried?
- She was buried at Langa, Cape Town
What is the meaning of vulindlela?
- Vulindlela is a Xhosa/Zulu word which means “Make way”. In the context of Brenda Fassie’s song, it means “ make the way you gossiping neighbors because my child is getting married today”.
