Candy “Tsa-Mandebele” Mokwena was born at Ga-Sedibeng in Bolobedu outside Tzaneen (Limpopo). She is a South African singer and a dancer best known for “Tsa Mandebele” hit song which won Metro FM song of the year in 2013, featuring the South African House Music legend and the Co-Founder of Kalawa Jazzmee – Oskido.
Candy started singing in the 1980’s and she has worked with Xitsonga Disco Legend Penny Penny. She’s from a group called Shaka Bundu Girls (a group which she was a lead vocalist together with Nurse Matlala who has also pursued a solo career as a Xitsonga Traditional Musician). She also worked with the late Peter Teanet, Kabelo Mabalane, Ringo Madlingozi, Oskido and Mzilikazi Wa Afrika amongst others.
Her achievements includes winning Munghana Lonene FM Music awards, 2009 SATMA Award for best Sepedi album & Best Alternative SAMA nomination, winning song of the year in 2013 with the song Tsa Mandebele and 2015 Fame SA Awards in Limpopo for the Best Female Artist just to mention a few.
If you are a House Music fan, you won’t forget the voice behind “Ama huwelele” with Mzilikazi Wa Afrika because the song was well received by the masses worldwide with a remix by a well known international producer/disc jockey Manoo (France). Candy “Tsa Mandebele” Mokwena, Better known as the voice on Oskido’s hit song “Tsa Mandebele”; Kabelo Mabalane’s “Baby na Fire” from the album “Immortal Vol. 3”, featuring with Calvin; writer/feature on Unathi’s “Enkosi” from the album “Alive”; and feature/writer of Steve Group’s “Swi lo yini” amongst others.
Investing in your project is for a good cause, the same can be said by Candy’s vision because she went all out to bring more hands on her authentic African voices gives her music a better global appeal since there is more demand for local content here and abroad. Featuring on the set are the Bongo Maffin rapper Stoan Seate on “Mmalekutu”, Seedo Maluleke on “Fambela kule”, Busiswa of the “Ngoku” fame on the ancestors calling song “Khillo”. She has gone as far as featuring the Limpopo’s most loved DJ Ganyani on the bonus track “3-Four”, with additional production by the Uhurru member DJ Clap. This project sees her on a musical shift that takes her back to her Afro soul/folk roots music.
Here is what we have quoted Candy saying about her music: “My music has changed, people of late know me as a house music artist, whereas I can also do Afro jazz, Afro Soul, deep traditional, and many things musical. I am just ‘an all-round’ real musician, you can’t guarantee what I will do next.” says the surprising and prolific Candy, who has also penned music for Ringo Madlingozi, Penny Penny, and branched into TV as well. Afro soul/ folk world music is my favourite music, this is something I am passionate about. My album that I released in 2009 (“Siki” – Five Cents’) was on that path. All these years I was waiting to get a good recording deal that would understand what I am about musically speaking. My record label at Kalawa Jazmee loved the concept of the project and fully supported the direction I was taking”, she added.
Candy “Tsa Mandebele” Mokwena further says the album will resonate with the masses, and it is the vehicle that will take her to the summit of her “unstoppable” worldwide conquest.
