5 Facts about musician Candy Tsa Mandebele

She’s worked with Penny Penny

Candy launched her professional music career in 1993 as a songwriter for the legendary Peter Teanet’s album Nwa’yingwani. In the same year, Candy moved to Joburg to look for a recording deal and met up with Papa Penny Penny. They worked on his national hit Shichangani. Candy and a friend launched the group Shaka Bundu Girls and have a platinum-selling album Hona Mo Soo, One Day and Hi July.

She didn’t break into the industry with her hit collaboration with Oskido Tsa Mandebele

She’s collaborated with Brothers of Peace on Ma Bop and did backing for the band for three years. Candy’s also worked with Black Motion, Revolution, Trompies, Dr Malinga, Selaelo Selota and on Mzilikazi wa Africa’s Mahuwelele. She mentions Afro-soul singer, Ringo Madlingozi as a her mentor.

She worked at a tea farm in Tzaneen earning R180 a month.

She has two kids and fell pregnant at 17 and 20.

Her hairstyle means something

Her quirky hairstyle isn’t the typical fade haircut donned by millennials either but rather has a traditional symbol. It’s worn by the women of the Bolobedu tribe and symbolises that she’s of age and a man can approach and make her wife.

She suffers from type 2 diabetes.

pics: candytsamandebele.co.za.