Skip to main content

Brenda Fassie: She Lived!

Brenda Fassie was untouchable. She was like a Phoenix – she’d be consumed by her own flames, but rise from her ashes. I grew up reading everything written about her, watching and listening to all interviews. 

She was a subject in most of my speeches throughout primary and high school. I loved her energy – and mostly envied her ability to get away with saying the craziest things.

When news reports announced her coma – I took it lightly – it was Brenda Fassie, she’d rise from this. Her demonic relationship with drugs didn't bother me. I always believed she’d kick the habit and live to tell the world how bad drugs were. 

For me that coma in April/May 2004 would be her final wake up call. But my Brenda Fassie didn't wake up. She didn't rise to tell us about her near death experience. My heart was broken.

A collection of essays on an epic life. 

Bongani Madondo’s I’m Not Your Weekend Special brought to surface all the emotions, good and bad, I had about this legendary persona. I believe that this collection of essays is such an intimate look into her life – different views from people who had a piece of Brenda. 

These are personal essays from those that were blessed to have had a close connection with Brenda Fassie.

Mpho Lebona’s story stuck out the most for me. She tells us about Brenda Fassie the teenager – the big sister her parents brought home for her. Mpho is Koloi and Ethel Lebona’s daughter – Brenda Fassie stayed with the family in her early years in Johannesburg. 

Mpho unpacks her excitement at having this people-magnet big sister and how she loved music.

“She loved to sing. She sang to just about anything and everything that had a melody or music to it” – recalls Mpho.

Koloi and Ethel took Brenda Fassie in 1978. They promised her mother they’d nurture her and take care of her education. But the teenage Brenda Fassie was wild at heart – hard to raise and discipline. She bunked school, was caught smoking dagga and drinking alcohol.

The ungovernable Brenda Fassie eventually dropped out of school at Form Two (Just before Junior Certificate) – I think this could be Grade 8. Mpho ends her story with this quote from her mom, “Baby, it hurts. It still hurts to talk about Brenda”.

Brenda Fassie’s life seemed to just be one bad decision after another of an extremely talented singer. Not only was she a great singer, she was a magical performer and she loved people. Each story in the book had me wondering if her unconditional love for people was her trying to receive the same love at the level she gave it.

She randomly gave money to street kids, shared her home with everyone and allowed just about everybody in her personal space. Brenda Fassie’s life was not a selfish one – she was never alone. In all her crazy – there were always people around her. Did any of these people have good intentions for her? And if they did – did she listen? Would Brenda Fassie have had the same impact on me and many that loved her if she was a good girl?

I loved Brenda Fassie mostly for her imperfections. Through her crazy – I feel I can forgive myself for not making the perfect mark.

A wild spirit. 
Bongani Madondo did an impressive job in putting this together and reminding us of the spirit that was Brenda Fassie. We need more books about our legends – people that have made a mark – from the arts to politics. More books can be written about Brenda Fassie – her life was so epic I believe any of the authors featured in this book can unpack their experience even further.

But where is Bongani Fassie in this collection of essays? I would have loved to read Bongani Fassie’s story about his mother – a woman he shared with so many. Did Madondo try to reach out? Questions not answered in the book.

Brenda Fassie – a life lived. Her spirit lives on. May this book be the first of many.  

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Curious Case of Pinky Pinky: The Toilet Tokoloshe

There was once a Tokoloshe, her name was Pinky Pinky – she lived in the girls’ school toilets, sang a song that introduced her and told you about her parents. She’d then end the song by demanding you give her something. Thanks to Pinky Pinky, her choice of location and her singing – I've yet to feel completely comfortable using public toilets. I first heard about Pinky Pinky when I was in Sub A (now known as Grade 1). She terrorized girls my age, demanding money or (as I recently heard) stole their panties. I think she’d also want whatever pink item you had on you. If you couldn't give in to Pinky Pinky’s demands – you were in big trouble. I don’t remember the details of what she’d do to you but what I knew is that it would be painful. Pinky Pinky was so dangerous she even made it into a national newspaper – although they used a blurry picture. There were different stories told about how she looked – none mentioned a beautiful creature. Her looks were things horror mo...
23 comments
Read more

Book Review: London, Cape Town, Joburg

What a miserable ending to a really soul capturing novel! London, Cape Town, Joburg by ZukiswaWanner had me hooked from day one but I must say, I was never really ready for that ending – plot twist of note. To be fair, the story starts with two parents mourning their only son who had committed suicide. From the onset you know that something really bad must have happened for a thirteen-year-old to kill himself but before the author lets us in on the reason, she takes us through one of the best, heart-warming, authentic love stories I have read in a while. Martin O’Malley and Germaine Spencer, are two imperfect people who come together and build what seems like a perfect nest. They understand each other, defend each other, fight, make up, have loads of sex and most importantly love and respect one another. I loved every moment of their love story. From the insecurities, jealous moments, moving from city to city and how they grew into such cool, yet strict parents. Wanner t...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Tribute to Juby Mayet – by Mmagauta Molefe

A tribute lunch dedicated to Juby Mayet was hosted at the SABC in Johannesburg on April 23. Mmagauta Molefe, a comrade and fellow detainee shared this speed at the event. Juby Mayet (L), Mmagauta Mlefe (R) Activists, religious leaders, organisations, journalist, trade unionist and others in the 70’s were united under the banner of Black Consciousness, the movement that came up to occupy the empty political space left by the banning of the PAC and ANC. This collective became targets of the apartheid regime, they were raided, harassed, banned, detained and even murdered. A number of you here, including Juby Mayet, are survivors of that era. The fear instilled in the then system by the BC led 1976 June 16 uprisings and the organised action that was to happen against the establishment of the homeland Bophutatswana – led to the arrests and banning of various BC connected people, newspapers and organisations in 1977. A day now called Media Freedom day by this regime; I beli...
1 comment
Read more