Today marks 20 years since the passing of the iconic singer-songwriter and dancer Brenda Nokuzola Fassie, affectionately known as MaBrrr.
To celebrate and honour her life, Brenda’s son, Bongani Fassie, will host a night of music and fun at Tycoon Lounge in Bryanston tonight.
Taking to social media this week, Bongani said the multiple award-winning legend was not just his mother but a global icon in African pop music.
Music still resonates with millions
“It has been 20 years since her passing, and her music still resonates with millions around the world,” said Bongani.
“Let us come together with fellow artists to celebrate her legacy, her passion, and the joy she brought to so many lives.”
Brenda was born in Langa, Cape Town, and was the youngest of nine children.
She was named after the American singer Brenda Lee. Her mother was a pianist, and Brenda started earning money by singing for tourists.
At the age of 16, she relocated to Soweto for a better life as a singer and joined the vocal group Joy. She later became the lead singer for a township music group called Brenda and the Big Dudes.
During her larger-than-life music career, she released timeless bangers such as Black President, Vuli Ndlela, Zola Bud, and Umuntu.
Overdose of cocaine
On April 26 2004, MaBrrr collapsed at her home in Buccleuch, Gauteng, and was admitted to the hospital in Sunninghill.
According to reports, she had suffered a cardiac arrest, but after some time, she went into a coma after suffering from an asthma attack.
The post-mortem report revealed that Brenda had taken an overdose of cocaine on the night of her collapse, and this was the cause of her coma.
She had stopped breathing and suffered brain damage from a lack of oxygen.
She died in the hospital at the age of 39 on May 9 2004, after her life-support machines were turned off.
Brenda had a few run-ins with the law and a long history with drugs, but through all the narcotics problems and setbacks, she was a star and one of the biggest musical geniuses ever produced by South Africa.
