In Cape Town<\/a> her half brother helped her land a job as a waitress at the Stardust Cafe in Rondebosch<\/a> \u2013 an establishment that most of the UCT arts students gravitate to as one of the pre-requisites of working there is the ability to entertain. As Nomfusi says; \u201cThey must have hired me for my singing ability as I wasn\u2019t that good as a waitress and could only carry two plates at a time!\u201d The song that Nomfusi sang for her \u2018audition\u2019 as a waitress was Whitney Houston\u2019s \u2018I Will Always Love You\u2019.<\/p>\n Commenting on Port Elizabeth people Nomfusi said; \u201cI find it hard to describe the positive way that PE people hold themselves, I would say that they have \u2018SWAG\u2019 and a positive mentality of competing in and with the world. My inspiration comes from those locals who had style and fashion sense, in the streets and in the church, who would dress up and look good.\u201d<\/p>\n Listening to the album, Take me Home, one gets a sense of good times, stylish dancers, women in three quarter dresses and white socks being whirled around by men in sharp suits and even sharper hats, dazzling smiles and the flash of petticoats, long drawn out chords from the organ, shebeen beers and a hint of smoke to give the image depth.<\/p>\n The jazz influences are huge and comforting but I wanted to know from Nomfusi just where she got the Jazz, Brenda Fassie and Letta Mbula influences for her music as she is certainly not of my vintage. Apparently she has her uncle to thank for her jazz influences. He had an old \u2018skorokoro\u2019 of a car and this larger than life character possesed an abundance of style and played music from that era endlessly in his old \u2018skorokoro\u2019. Nomfusi remembers him as leaving an indelible mark on wherever he visited even to being able to recognise his deodorant lingering after he had left her mother\u2019s home.<\/p>\n And of course there has to be one song that jumps up and grabs you by the short and curlies \u2013 here I was listening to these deep jazzy chords and old school instruments when a track called Ndiyazenzela started out with a major change of pace and style with a house feel to it. It certainly demonstrates that this diva has business savvy and the ability to craft her talents around different genres. The lyrics best describe her formative years and are pretty upbeat. Nomfusi says that; \u201c\u2026 the lyrics are upbeat and motivational and send young people a simple message \u2013 You Can Do It!\u201d<\/p>\n Nomfusi was recently chosen to portray the character of Miriam Makeba in the long-awaited biopic of Nelson Mandela, \u201cLong Walk To Freedom.\u201d The film, which will be released in 2014, will according to its producer Anant Singh \u201cbe the largest South African production ever mounted.\u201d<\/p>\n Since making her debut with \u201cKwazibani<\/a>\u201d in 2009, Nomfusi has become one of South Africa\u2019s most sought-after export products. With ten international tours under her belt, she has given riveting performances across Europe and Canada at prestigious festivals such as WOMAD in England, performing with Angelique Kidjo at the Afrikadey Festival in Canada, and to an audience of more than 8000 at FMM Sines in Portugal.<\/p>\n My favourite\u2019s on the album are Kunjalo, Ndiyazenzela, Uthando Lwam \u2013 Qam Qam (currently playlisted on Metro FM) and Ndizibonile for the crying guitar introduction.<\/p>\n Talking to Nomfusi one gets the sense that she is a well grounded person with an incredible sense of her own self worth and ability to contribute in a positive way to what makes South Africa great \u2013 good luck Nomfusi and we are looking forward to seeing you in Port Elizabeth soon.<\/p>\n Related Links:<\/strong> Nomfusi \u2013 PE\u2019s Lucky Charm<\/a> | PE Singer to Sing Brenda at CT Gay Pride<\/a> | Nomfusi The Lucky Charms in concert at Alliance Francaise<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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