Today marks 14 years after the passing of our beloved Afropop singer, Brenda Fassie. On the morning of 26 April 2004, Fassie collapsed at her home in Buccleuch, Gauteng, and was admitted into a hospital in Sunninghill.
MaBrr (as affectionately known to her fans) was visited in the hospital by the former President Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela, and Thabo Mbeki, and her condition was front-page news in South African papers. She passed on aged 39 on 9 May 2004 in hospital without returning to consciousness after her life support machines were turned off.
The Queen of African Pop – Brenda Nokuzola Fassie was born in Langa, Cape Town on the 3rd November 1964, as the youngest of nine children. She was named after the 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. She was affectionately called MaBrrr by her fans, she was sometimes described as the Queen of African Pop or the “Madonna of The Townships” or simply as The Black Madonna. Her bold stage antics earned a reputation for “outrageousness”.
In 1981, at the age of 16, she left Cape Town for Soweto, Johannesburg, to seek her fortune as a singer. Brenda 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.
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.
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.
Check below of how twitter went crazy about the talent of the Queen of African Pop – MaBrr:
#1.
Brenda Fassie and The Big Dudes
Show some respect pic.twitter.com/IJMS2lIjPD
— Culprit (@CulpritEnter) May 1, 2018
#2.
This Day 14 years ago, Brenda Fassie, dies in her sleep at Sunninghill Hospital. We miss you MaDlomo! #RIPBrendaFassie ? pic.twitter.com/WRz8f7ZnL6
— damsel-in-distress ? (@princekhanya_) May 9, 2018
#3.
Today in History 9th May 2004
Brenda Fassie passed on in her sleep at Sunninghill Hospital. The Queen of African Pop & one of the biggest selling artists in South Africa. Her music resonated with many & inspired many other musicians
Remember the Icon – Remember the Legend pic.twitter.com/ARy9aNcB0w
— #IAmWinnieMandela ?? (@KatlehoMK) May 9, 2018
#4.
Sweet hits by Brenda Fassie
/ “Madonna of The Townships”
Who would forget this scene! pic.twitter.com/iWKoZQ1LNB— Siyane Aniley (@EthioPhenomenal) April 30, 2018
#5.
So the other day at @UmhloboWeneneFM they asked me to sing one of the Late Legend @BrendaFassieLeg
Brenda Fassie’s song and I sang TOO LATE FOR MAMA.I love this song lol aish mara I forgot the lyrics plus my voice was so tired wuh kodwa ke I really love this song ey. pic.twitter.com/gfZg9LPZXN
— #MamaKaBafana ? (@nelisiwe_sibiya) April 30, 2018
#6.
This day in History: South Africa lost a musical legend…
Forever missed Brenda Fassie.. pic.twitter.com/GO9ukbWeCh— Miss.V (@azolav) May 9, 2018
#7.
The concept of filling up stadiums in SA is not new. Brenda Fassie (Lucky Dube as well) was doing it effortlessly during her prime and she never bragged about it. She is forever our queen through her music that still lives. R.I.P MaBrrr pic.twitter.com/kk3QhuCYdc
— Sam (@SpokenSam) May 9, 2018
#8.
Pencil drawing I did of Mama Brenda Fassie#BrendaFassie pic.twitter.com/3hGc9VdXM3
— Heath Hlatshwayo (@HeathHlatshwayo) May 9, 2018
#9.
#Chooseday Brenda Fassie Queen of African pop pic.twitter.com/zLv22hzt15
— Long live the spirit of Brenda Fassie (@lulekotlhari) May 8, 2018
#10.
Singer Brenda Fassie aka MaBrrr passed away 14 years ago today. Her Estate wishes to celebrate her life and pass condolences to all those who have lost parents and loved ones this year. PIC : City Press Library pic.twitter.com/Dbt4JgsAWk
— Sunday Sun (@SundaySunSA) May 9, 2018
