Nomfusi
With an incredibly powerful voice and electrifying stage presence, Nomfusi is conquering the world with her band from the townships, The Lucky Charms.
Nominated for two Metro FM Awards, including Best Female Artist and Best African Pop Album, her music is an explosive blend of Sophiatown (African jazz from the 50’s) and 60’s Motown. Think Miriam Makeba meets Tina Turner… caught in a packet of dynamite.
Renowned South African music critic Miles Keylock described her as “betraying youthful vulnerability while at the same time projecting strength, confidence, and uncanny insight for a 23-year old. The diminutive singer-songwriter stands tall in defiance of pop-fashion expectations.”
Nomfusi was born in the township of KwaZhakele in the Eastern Cape, a beautiful but poverty-stricken province in rural South Africa. Her single mother, Kwazibani (“Who Knows?” in English) raised her while her father languished in jail for 21 years. A domestic worker by day, Kwazibani was a sangoma (African medicine woman) with a gift for music.
Nomfusi would accompany her mother to the weekly sangoma rituals (Intlombe) where they would dance and sing for hours.
Sadly, in 1998, Nomfusi was orphaned at the age of twelve when Kwazibani died of Aids. Nomfusi’s aunt took them in, but she also tragically died of the same disease three years later.
With remarkable inner strength she turned around her situation to become one of the brightest new stars South Africa has to offer.
Nomfusi played a big role in the FIFA World Cup celebrations in South Africa, performing to crowds of nearly 65 000 spectators at the City of Cape Town’s Fan Parks. She also toured with the World Cup Trophy to far flung places like Umtata in the former Transkei.
UK-based producer Ross Cullum, producer-engineer of heavy weights like Tori Amos and Enya, mixed Nomfusi’s first album, Kwazibani (released by Uinversal Music), at Wispington Studios in England. The album was awarded five stars in DRUM Magazine, with the tracks Kwazibani and Nontsokolo becoming infectious hits in South Africa.
Nomfusi and her band embarked on their second North American tour in July 2010, with shows in Montreal, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Calgary and the legendary Roots and Blues Festival in Salmon Arm.
Nomfusi’s startlingly big voice, tangible charm and incredible life story have courted the attention of many major music role players in the world, including WOMAD and the Montreal Jazz Festival. Carving out a solid circuit for her engrossing live performances, she is enjoying a rapidly growing international following.
Nomfusi has something to say, and the world is listening.
