Oskido keeps Brenda Fassie fans guessing

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By Showbiz Reporter

KALAWA Jazmee guru, Oskido, is holding on to some sensational unreleased Brenda Fassie songs, New Zimbabwe.com can reveal.

Oskido, real name Oscar Mdlongwa, has deliberately delayed releasing the songs recorded with the late Afro-pop queen, Fassie, who died in May 2004.

Since her death, two albums have been released, the first Gimme Some Volume in December 2004 and the recently released Angiphum' Endlini -- produced by Brenda's former engineer, Teny Maribatsi. It has nine previously unreleased songs.

In an interview with New Zimbabwe.com, Oskido told how difficult it was to get Brenda to the studio.

He said: "With Brenda, you couldn't have an appointment for studio time, I guess it was part of the genius.

"She had some things going, and she had a difficult time fighting drug related problems. Sometimes we would arrange a studio appointment and she wouldn't turn up. When she did turn up, I was either busy or not there.

"We recorded a few songs together, and some of the material is yet to be released. I have seen people rushing to unleash Brenda's unreleased material, but sometimes you just need to chill and wait.

"Brenda is a legend and her music will live long after her. I will think of a time to release the unreleased Brenda Fassie stuff, and her legendary status demands that I devote quite some time to the project. Brenda's fans will love it."

Brenda's new one, Angiphum' Endlini, has courted a lot of controversy in South Africa after some skeptics claimed that it wasn't Brenda's voice on the album, but that of gospel queen -- Deborah.

But Oskido has no doubt it's certainly Brenda.

"It's Brenda, anyone who says it's not is up to some mischief or being downright unfair on the people who have worked on this album. Brenda has a cult following out there and trying to confuse her fans is really unfair, not only on her, but people who have worked on the album."
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shapiro@newzimbabwe.com