South African acclaimed actress Brenda Ngxoli is still in happy disbelief as she celebrates the privilege of being selected to portray the late, iconic Queen of Pop Brenda Fassie in the four-part documentary series Vulindlela, which screens every Saturday on SABC 1.
The documentary showcases the life, career, challenges, and enduring legacy of Brenda Fassie—tracing her journey from her modest upbringing in Langa, Cape Town, to her rise as one of the nation’s most adored and headline-making stars. It explores her ascent to fame, personal hardships (including her much-publicised “downfall” and time in rehab), and her powerful resurgence with the legendary Memeza album, featuring the timeless hit Vulindlela.
Brenda Ngxoli on taking this role
As thrilled as Brenda Ngxoli is to embody the iconic Brenda Fassie — a fun coincidence, given that she’s also a Brenda herself — the role came with plenty of demands.
She had to make significant personal adjustments to truly step into the late star’s world, refine her appearance, and make sure she honoured Brenda Fassie in a way that would connect beautifully with audiences.
Sharing her journey on Instagram, Brenda opened up about the emotional depth of the role and the lifestyle changes she decided to embrace.
She highlighted how these shifts became a meaningful part of her process, allowing her to pay tribute to the legendary musician. She also revealed that preparing for the part took her a full 13 months (a year and a month) as she devoted to fully immersing herself in Fassie’s life.
In her sincere post, Brenda expressed the following:
“It took me 13 months to prepare for this Role. From Gym to Weight loss drips to Personal Trainers to Mediterranean Diets…. You name it. All whilst breastfeeding my darling @sky_ngxoli. Dance and Movement classes to Voice Coaches. All in Faith that one day I shall be able to Portray Brenda Nokuzola Fassie,” wrote Brenda.
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