If NY, JHB can honour Brenda Fassie, CPT should do even better

SOME time ago, publicist and designer Maria McCloy asked if I had any old Brenda Fassie articles in my archive. I didn’t. That question lingered in my mind until last week, when it found its echo at the Spotify GLOW Brenda Fassie tribute event and exhibition that opened at the Market Theatre in Newtown, Johannesburg.

- UNATHI KONDILE

NEW York paused to celebrate the life of Brenda Fassie.

(@OFFGRIDZA)

November 3 marked the day Brenda Fassie was born. Thus the context for the fuss, last week. Even New York paused to remember our “Madonna of the Townships” as her face flickered across a towering Time Square LED screen.

Spotify’s YouTube channel also premiered a ten-minute documentary titled ‘The Impact of Brenda Fassie’ that traces how her music continues to resonate across generations and inspire artists like Tyla today.

The Market Theatre event and exhibition, curated by McCloy, gathered Fassie family members and friends. A panel discussion featured her then-contentious producer Chicco Twala, the ever-radiant Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Blondie Makhene, David Mabaso of her first band The Big Dudes, academic Dr Mbali Mazibuko and journalist Charl Blignaut. To name a few.