Nomfusi Gotyana (born 1988), known mononymously as Nomfusi, is a South African singer and performer of Afro-Soul music. She was born in the township of KwaZakhele in the

Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape ( ; ) is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, and its largest city is Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Due to its climate and nineteenth-century towns, it is a common location for tourists. It is also kno ...

. Her mother Kwazibani ("Who Knows?" in English) raised her while her father languished in jail for 21 years. A

domestic worker A domestic worker is a person who works within a residence and performs a variety of household services for an individual, from providing cleaning and household maintenance, or cooking, laundry and ironing, or care for children and elderly ...

by day, Kwazibani was a sangoma (African medicine woman) with a gift for music. Nomfusi accompanied her mother to the weekly sangoma rituals ("Intlombe") where Nomfusi developed her musicality. She is a two-time

South African Music Awards The South African Music Awards (often simply the SAMAs) are the Recording Industry of South Africa's music industry awards, established in 1995. The ceremony is held annually, usually in late April or May, with the judging process starting in ...

nominee, Metro FM Award nominee and performed on multiple local and international tours.

Career

Since launching her singing career in 2009, Nomfusi appeared at festivals including WOMAD in England, FMM Sines in Portugal. Her performances have been described by critics locally and overseas as "an absolute riot to watch and hear", "a refreshing blast of energy". The ''Swazi Observer'' named her "best artist in the overall line-up" at the 2011 Bushfire Festival. She has been profiled on television and in the press. She performed live on "Live Amp" (SABC1), Afrocafe, Morning Live, with feature articles in ''Drum'', ''True Love'', Destiny'', 'Fair Lady'', and ''Cosmopolitan''.

Actor

Nomfusi was cast to play

Miriam Makeba Zenzile Miriam Makeba ( , ; 4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including African popular music, Afropop, ja ...

in the movie about

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela ( , ; born Rolihlahla Mandela; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African Internal resistance to apartheid, anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of South Africa f ...

called '' Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom''. Producer Anant Singh claimed that the 2014 film would be "the largest South African production ever mounted."

Albums

Chris Blackwell Christopher Percy Gordon Blackwell OJ (born 22 June 1937) is a Jamaican-British former record producer and the founder of Island Records, which has been called "one of Britain's great independent labels". According to the Rock and Roll Hall ...

, the founder of Island Records, who discovered

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, he fused elements of reggae, ska and rocksteady and was renowned for his distinctive voca ...

Angelique Kidjo Angelique or Angélique may refer to: * Angélique (given name), a French feminine name Arts and entertainment Music * Angélique (instrument), a string instrument of the lute family * ''Angélique'', a 1927 opéra bouffe by Jacques Ibert * A ...

and US, said of Nomfusi, "What a terrific young artist, her genuine concern for her community and beyond comes through SO strongly. She could go all the way."

Kwazibani

In 2009 Nomfusi released her debut album ''Kwazibani'' with her then band "The Lucky Charms". ''Kwazibani'' featured two singles that gained her audience both locally and internationally. The song "Nontsokolo" earned her her first SAMA nomination. The album earned Nomfusi Metro FM Award Nominations for Best Female Singer and Best Album.

Take Me Home

She released her second album in 2012, ''Take Me Home'', targeting a Mzansi audience. The album spawned singles "Uthando Lwam" ("Qam Qam") and a duet with Ringo, "Kunjalo" that charted with multiple radio stations. Ringo Madlingozi co-wrote and produced the bulk of the album, while M'Jakes, Robbie Malinga and DJ Clock were collectively responsible for six more tracks. The album garnered another SAMA nomination, for Best Adult African category.

Discography

Albums

* ''Kwazibani'' (Universal Music, 2009) * ''Take Me Home'' (Universal Music, 2012) * ''African Day'' (Delicious Tunes, 2017)

Singles

* "Uthando Lwam (Qam Qam)" (2008) * "Nontsokolo" (2009) * "Kwazibani" (2009) * "Kunjalo" (2012)

Awards

References

External links

Nomfusi – PE’s Lucky Charm

Nomfusi's Facebook page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nomfusi South African folk singers South African women folk singers Living people 21st-century South African women singers 1988 births