One of the best female musicians from the Vhembe region, Tshanduko Maano, or “Mazwale” as she is better known in the music industry, had more than 5,000 guests captivated for more than an hour when she performed at the opening jamboree of a popular funeral undertaker’s new offices in Tshipako village on Saturday, 16 September.

As Mazwale was born and bred in the same village of Tshipako, she needed no introduction, and young and old were cheering enthusiastically when she took the stage. Once again she proved that, in terms of dancing, she is simply in a class of her own. Old-timers who had been following the music scene for the past three decades were reminded of local female pop divas such as the late Brenda Fassie as well as Mercy Pakela and Rebecca Malope, who were not only crowd pullers in the mid-1980s for their singing but dancing queens of note. 

After her performance, the lanky singer told the media that she was only getting started in terms of making good music. “I have been in this industry for more than 15 years, but for me, this is still early days into my career as both singer and dancer. The best of Mazwale is yet to come,” she said.

When asked where she got the energy to perform non-stop for more than an hour at a time without taking a break, she said she looked after herself very well. “The entertainment industry is very demanding. If you want to stay long in this industry, you have to refrain from drugs and alcohol. I exercise regularly. Even rehearsing is very good exercise as we jump up and down in trying to perfect our performances for the fans,” she said.

Some of the other artists to grace the occasion were Khakhathi Tshisikule (known as Khakhathi and Friends, or Murida), Cornerstone, and the Adziambei Band.