‘WINNING COMPLICATES MY LIFE’
MASKANDI star Mroza Fakude believes that his now famous song Van Damme has actually made his life a little difficult.
Mroza gained instant fame on New Year’s Day when his then little known song Van Damme won a public vote in SABC Summer Song Competition on New Year’s Eve.
Mroza’s song won ahead more fancied Ska Bhora Moreki by King Monada and Babes Wodumo’s Wololo.
On Tuesday night Mroza was honoured at an event held at Sound Room in Kyalami, where the other finalists performed.
While Mroza left R150 000 richer and in a new Kia Picanto, the other finalists walked away with trophies and R30 000.
The musician from rural Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal, said since acquiring his new-found fame, he had been bombarded by schools asking for financial help since it was widely believed that he had won R1-million.
“I don’t know where they got that information from. I have had to explain that I’m not a millionaire.
“I would like to help talented musicians from my area who have been trying to break into the industry,” he said. He explained that his song Van
Damme did not perpetuate violence but encouraged people not to give up in life.
“[Action movie actor JeanClaude] Van Damme is my role model and I love him. I encourage everyone to have a Van Damme spirit. Never allow anything to stand in your way.”
Mroza said he knew he would win the SABC song competition after he saw everything in a dream.
“I knew before they told me that I had won. I am happy I won and thank God for this because it has changed my life,” he said.
Referring to Ingqwele Kamaskandi (champion of maskandi) competition run by a Zulu newspaper to honour the best in the genre, Mroza said he wished that someone else wins it.
He said he had dreamt that he could win again because people were voting for him.
“It is my wish that this competition be won by another maskandi artist, not me. I know success attracts enemies. For this one, I am not even campaigning [for votes].”
Fakude said he learned a lot about music while working with maskandi band Osaziwayo.