In 1981, at the age of 16, she left Cape Town for Soweto, Johannesburg to seek her fortune as a singer. Brenda first joined the group Joy and later became the lead singer for the township pop group Brenda And The Big Dudes. She had a son, Bongani, in 1985 by a fellow Big Dudes musician. Brenda married ex-convict Nhlanhla Mbambo in 1989 but later in 1991 got divorced. It was around this time that she became addicted to cocaine and her career suffered.
With very outspoken views and frequent visits to the poorer townships of Johannesburg, as well as songs about life in the townships, she enjoyed tremendous popularity. Known best for her songs "Weekend Special" and "Too Late for Mama", she was called by Time Magazine in 2001 "The Madonna of the Townships".
In a drug-related incident in 1995 she was discovered unconscious with the body of her lover, Poppie Sihlahla, who had died of an apparent overdose. Fassie survived, underwent rehabilitation, and got her career back on track. However, she still had drug problems and returned to drug rehabilitation clinics about 30 times in her life.
Since 1996 she released several solo albums like "Now Is The Time", "Memeza" (1997, the best selling album in South Africa) or "Nomakanjani?". Most of her albums became multi-platinum sellers in South Africa.
On the morning of 26 April 2004, Brenda collapsed at her home in Buccleuch and was admitted into the Sunninghill hospital in Johannesburg. The press were told that she had suffered cardiac arrest but later reported that she had slipped into a coma brought on by an asthma attack. The post-mortem report revealed that she had taken an overdose of cocaine in the night of her collapse, and this was the cause of her coma. She stopped breathing and suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen. Brenda died at age 39 on 9 May 2004 in hospital without returning to consciousness after her life support machines were turned off. According to the South African Sunday Times and the managers of her music company, the post-mortem report also showed that she was HIV-positive. Her manager, Peter Snyman, denied this aspect of the report.
She was voted 17th in the Top 100 Great South Africans.
Source: Wikipedia
External link: Brenda Fassie: A very human hero (BBC News)
Oxamu
Brenda Fassie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Helele mama, helele mama, helele mama, helele mama
Helele mama, helele mama, helele mama, helele mama
Baxakekil'ooxamu
Ngamaxoki amaxoki
Baxakekil'ooxamu
Ngamaxoki amaxoki
Igqirha lendlela nguqongqothwane
Igqirha lendlela nguqongqothwane
Baxakekil'ooxamu
Ngamaxoki ngamaxoki
Baxakekil'oxamu
Ngamaxoki ngamaxoki
Igqirha lendlela nguqongqothwane
Igqirha lendlela nguqonqothwane
Nguqongqothwane
Nguqongqothwane
Nguqongqothwane
Nguqongqothwane (Ayi)
(Ay ay ay), Ayi (Ay ay ay)
Ayi (Ay ay ay), Ayi (Ay ay ay)
Ayi (Ay ay ay), Ayi (Ay ay ay)
Ayi (Ay ay ay), Ayi (Ay ay ay) Ai, Ai
Baxakekil'ooxamu
Baxakekil'ooxamu
Baxakekil'Ooxamu
Uqongqothwane
Yeeaah yeah
Yeeaah yeah (Nguqongqothwane)
Yeeaah yeah
Yeeaah yeah (Nguqongqothwane)
Helele mama (Helelele)
Helele mama, helele mama, helele mama
Baxakekil'ooxamu
Ngamaxoki amaxoki
Baxakekil'ooxamu
Ngamaxoki amaxoki
Igqirha lendlela nguqongqothwane
Igqirha lendlela nguqongqothwane
(Ay ay ay)
Nguqongqothwane (Ay ay ay)
Ay ay
Ay ay ay
Ay ay ay
Ay ay ay
Ay ay ay (Helele mama)
Ayi, Ayi
Helele mama (Ayi, Ayi)
Helele mama (Ayi)
Helele mama (Ayi)
Helele mama (Ayi)
Helele mama (Ayi)
Helele mama (Ayi)
Helele mama (Ayi)
Helele mama (Ayi)
Helele mama (Ayi)
Helele mama (Ayi)
Helele mama (Ayi)
Helele mama (Ayi)
Helele mama (Ayi)
Helele mama (Ayi)
The South African pop singer Brenda Fassie’s hit song “Oxamu” features traditional Xhosa rhythms that are fused with modern electronic dance beats. The repetition of the phrase “Helele mama” is part of the Xhosa language, and it is a celebratory chant translating to “sing, mama.” “Baxakekil’ooxamu,” repeated throughout the song, is a Xhosa phrase that refers to a traditional Xhosa dance that is performed during initiation ceremonies. The song celebrates the vibrancy and resilience of the Xhosa culture and its people.
The song’s lyrics derive from the traditional Xhosa folk song “Qongqothwane,” which is also known as “The Click Song.” The song was popularized by the South African singer Miriam Makeba in the late 1950s and became an international hit. The song’s distinctive clicking sounds are created by the Xhosa language’s use of click consonants, which are produced by sounds made with the tongue against the roof of the mouth.
“Oxamu” became a massive hit upon its release in 1997, and it solidified Brenda Fassie’s status as the “Queen of Afro-Pop.” The song’s fusion of traditional and contemporary sounds, along with its catchy melodies and upbeat rhythms, made it an instant classic. “Oxamu” has since become a staple at Xhosa cultural events and is often played at weddings, initiation ceremonies, and other celebrations.
Line by Line Meaning
Helele mama, helele mama, helele mama, helele mama
The singer repeatedly says 'helele mama' which is a chant that often accompanies traditional dances and celebrations in South Africa.
Baxakekil'ooxamu
The phrase 'baxakekil'ooxamu' means 'they are excited' in Xhosa, one of South Africa's official languages.
Ngamaxoki amaxoki
The phrase 'ngamaxoki amaxoki' means 'with their dancing sticks' in Xhosa, referring to traditional weapons used in African dance.
Igqirha lendlela nguqongqothwane
This line mentions the 'igqirha lendlela', meaning the 'leader of the path', and 'nguqongqothwane', meaning the 'click song', which is a form of traditional song that includes the use of clicking sounds as a percussive element.
Nguqongqothwane
This line repeats the phrase 'nguqongqothwane', which is a reference to the clicking sounds frequently used in traditional African music.
Ayi
The word 'ayi' is an exclamation often used in African music to express joy or enthusiasm.
Baxakekil'oxamu
This line repeats the phrase 'baxakekil'ooxamu', meaning 'they are excited', but with a slightly different pronunciation.
Uqongqothwane
This line repeats the word 'uqongqothwane', which is another name for the 'click song', a style of traditional African music featuring clicking sounds as an important element.
Yeeaah yeah
These lines are simply celebratory exclamations, expressing excitement and enthusiasm.
Helele mama (Helelele)
This line repeats the opening phrase of the song, which involves the singer chanting 'helele mama' repeatedly, which is a common chant in African traditional music.
(Ay ay ay)
This is another exclamation, expressing excitement and enthusiasm.
Helele mama (Ayi, Ayi)
The singer once again repeats the opening chant 'helele mama', followed by another instance of the exclamation 'ayi'.
Helele mama (Ayi)
This line is another repeat of the 'helele mama' chant, followed by a single instance of the exclamation 'ayi'.
Helele mama (Ayi)
The singer once again repeats the 'helele mama' chant, followed by another single instance of the exclamation 'ayi'.
Helele mama (Ayi)
This line is yet another repeat of the 'helele mama' chant, followed by a single instance of the exclamation 'ayi'.
Helele mama (Ayi)
The singer repeats the 'helele mama' chant one more time, followed by a final instance of the celebratory exclamation 'ayi'.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kesentseng Qonyevu Miss Kay
on Matshidiso
I loved Brenda Ma B with all my heart i still do nd forever will. Rest in eternal peace Queen of Pop
Lionel Mbayiwa
on Undikolota Malini
This song reminded me when I was still young and living in Zimbabwe,it painted an imagery picture of how South Africa looked like then I could see people dancing and very happy.
Since I had never set my foot in SA then and didnt understand what it means but there was a feeling within.
Now I'm listening to it and I'm residing in SA the song is taking me back home when I was young and living in an imaginary world.
Ngwanona song.i love it.
Ayanda Ndaba
on Kuyoze Kuyovalwa
zimbi iindaba...kuyoze kuyo closwa...iuyithululele iduku le iNGOMA...Hey he he he hey hola hops...hay' suuka
Nomacala Scaca Mpunzi
on Mama
why we don't get the track stay away(from my man) by brenda fassie?