Brenda Fassie

Quick Facts

Full Name	Brenda Fassie
Occupation	Pop Singer
Date Of Birth	Nov 3, 1964(1964-11-03)
Age	60
Date Of Death	2004-05-09
Birthplace	Cape Town
Country	South Africa
Horoscope	Scorpio

Brenda Fassie Biography

Brenda Fassie is one of the most popular and richest Pop Singer who was born on November 3, 1964 in Cape Town, South Africa. Afropop artist who composed and performed songs against apartheid along with singing “Weekend Special” and “Too Late for Mama.”

She was 16th place in the second place behind Nelson Mandela on the SABC3’s 100 Greatest South Africans list.

Brenda Nokuzola Fassie (3 November 1964 – 9 May 2004) was a South African anti-apartheid Afropop singer, songwriter, dancer and activist. Affectionately called MaBrrr by her fans, she was sometimes described as the “Queen of African Pop”, the “Madonna of The Townships” or simply as The Black Madonna. Her bold stage antics earned a reputation for “outrageousness”.

When she was 16 years old in 1981, she received a visit by Koloi Lebona. As a result, she left Cape Town for Soweto, Johannesburg, to seek her fortune as a singer. Fassie first 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. She had a son, Bongani, in 1985 by a fellow Big Dudes musician. She married Nhlanhla Mbambo in 1989 but divorced in 1991. Around this time she became addicted to cocaine and her career suffered. With very outspoken views and frequent visits to the poorer townships of Johannesburg, as well as songs about life in the townships, she enjoyed tremendous popularity. Known best for her songs “Weekend Special” and “Too Late for Mama”, she was dubbed “The Madonna of the Townships” by Time magazine in 2001. In 1995, she was discovered in a hotel with the body of her female lover, Poppie Sihlahla, who had died of an apparent overdose. Fassie underwent rehabilitation and got her career back on track. However, she still had drug problems and returned to drug rehabilitation clinics about 30 times in her life. 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.

She was raised at Langa, Cape Town with eight siblings. In later years, she briefly got engaged with Nhlanhla Mbambo.

Brenda Fassie Net Worth

Brenda Fassie is one of the richest Pop Singer from South Africa. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Brenda Fassie 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

She formed her first band, Brenda and the Big Dudes in the year 1985.

She’s been hailed as the queen of African Pop by her fans.

Brenda Nokuzola Fassie was born in Langa, Cape Town on the 3rd of November 1964 as the youngest of nine children. She was named after American singer Brenda Lee. Her father died when she was two, and with the help of her mother, a pianist, she started earning money by singing for tourists.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Brenda Fassie height Not available right now. Brenda weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Brenda Fassie Dating?

According to our records, Brenda Fassie married to Nhlanhla Mbambo. As of December 1, 2023, Brenda Fassie’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Brenda Fassie. You may help us to build the dating records for Brenda Fassie!

Facts & Trivia

Brenda Ranked on the list of most popular Pop Singer. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in South Africa. Brenda Fassie celebrates birthday on November 3 of every year.

Top Facts about Brenda Fassie

1. Brenda Fassie was a South African pop singer born in 1964.
2. She was known as the “Queen of African Pop”.
3. Her hit song “Weekend Special” sold over 500,000 copies.
4. Fassie won numerous awards including Best Female Artist at the Kora All Africa Music Awards.
5. She struggled with drug addiction throughout her career.
6. In 2000, she suffered cardiac arrest and fell into a coma for several weeks.
7. Fassie died on May 9, 2004 at the age of 39.
8. Her funeral was attended by thousands of fans and dignitaries.
9. She remains one of South Africa’s most beloved musicians to this day.
10. A biopic about her life titled “Brenda” is currently in production.

What was the cause of Brenda's death?

On the morning of 26 April 2004, Fassie collapsed at her home in Buccleuch, Gauteng, and was admitted into a hospital in Sunninghill. The press was told that she had suffered cardiac arrest , but later reported that she had slipped into a coma brought on by an asthma attack.

How old was Brenda Fassie when she died?

39 years (1964–2004)

How is Brenda Fassie related to Nelson Mandela?

One of the rarest album in the KCRW library (and mine as well) is a 1984 12″ single by a South African group called Joy, lead by Brenda Fassie, late niece of Nelson Mandela.

What did Brenda Fassie do for South Africa?

The album became the best-selling South African release of the year and earned her numerous South African Music Awards (SAMAs). In 1999, she received the Kora award for the best female artist. Her next album, Nomakanjani, reached triple platinum status within a few months of its release.

How much did Bongani Fassie inherit?

This week Bongani said that his mother’s estate had been settled 14 years after her death. She died of a cocaine overdose and left her estate, reportedly worth more than R20 million , unsettled.