It's in the melody of his music

His fans know him as Alie Nyandayeye, but off-stage he goes by the name of Albert Ngoako Masia, keyboard player for the late king of Shangaan disco, Peter Teanet, and he continues to establish himself with new songs in the music industry.

Masia, who resides at Ratsaka village in Soekmekaar, is a traditional Xitsonga artist and performs his music in most parts of the Vhembe and Mopani districts.

He started his music career at the age of 14. “I was so young and so talented in primary school,” he said. “When I was just 15, I had put together my own music group and people used to hire me for performances when they had parties and other special events.”

For Masia, who still carries a pen and paper with him, so that he can easily jot down his songs as he goes, music has become the essence of his life. “Music means everything to me,” he said. “To me it is do or die, for I can't live without music. It's like living without water in a desert area.”

His music was featured at least twice a month on an SABC1 programme called Roots. “That was another milestone for me,” he said proudly.

He mentioned Joe Shirimani and the late Peter Teanet as the artists he looked up to for motivation and inspiration. “Their music has a way of reminding me that I must always strive to deliver sweet melodies to the ears of those who love my music,” he said.

His first Xitsonga album, entitled Khomani swi tiya, was released in 2016 and included songs such as Khomanani, Khomani timbyana, Vakokwani and Soekmekaar.

Masia has touched many people through his music.

Alie Nyandayeye is available on social media platforms and can be contacted on Tel 072 611 6382.

Entertainment - Date: 07 December 2020

Tshifhiwa Mukwevho

Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho was born in 1984 in Madombidzha village, not far from Louis Trichardt in the Limpopo Province. After submitting articles for roughly a year for Limpopo Mirror's youth supplement, Makoya, he started writing for the main newspaper. He is a prolific writer who published his first book, titled A Traumatic Revenge in 2011. It focusses on life on the street and how to survive amidst poverty. His second book titled The Violent Gestures of Life was published in 2014.

Email: [email protected]