Music
Tshanduko Maano, known as Mazwale, won the 2016 South African Traditional Music Award (Satma) for the best Tshivenda album. The event was held at Richards Bay on Saturday.
The 20-year-old's album, Usapfa hutunya mavhudzi, was released in October 2015 and is still doing well.
She was born at Lwamondo-Mapate and started singing as a little girl in the primary school's choir. She later became lead vocalist in the local church. Her first album, Ndinne Uno, was released in 2014, with hit praise songs such as Ndwinwana wanga and the title track, Ndinne Uno. "When I started making music, I did not know it was to be my lifelong career. Here I am today, bagging awards which I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever achieve. This gives me more courage. I think this is a sign that I am doing a good job. I sing what is relevant to people's lives, something that empowers them," she said.
Mazwale made a name for herself when she recorded her first music with 5 dot 5 studio. What followed is phenomenal success that steered her to where she is today. In 2014, she assembled a studio in Gauteng. "I try to work with different producers to avoid creating the sounds and same level of quality every time." She added that this was the criticism that some local in-house artists received.
She felt, however, that her talent was not being recognized. "I have been wandering around and saw many things in life, but there was one thing that I was missing in life, and that was God. Everything has changed and my life has to bear testimony that I have changed. That is where this album came into being," Mazwale said.
She encourages young people to realize the importance of education and to put their education first. She is currently doing her second year for a diploma in sound engineering at Damelin College. She thanks her supporters who voted for her and dedicated her award to the supporters who always support her. Mazwale said that this was the first award for her.