Fassie’s music brought to life

Gotyana.
Gotyana always admired the late pop singer Fassie but never thought she would be asked to pay tribute to her one day.
The Eastern Cape singer could not believe it when she was asked to remember Fassie during the Uniting the Cultures of Cape Town concert.
The concert will be staged as part of the Gay Pride Festival at Cape Town Stadium tomorrow.
“I feel honoured to have been chosen to do this. I am exited and look forward to tomorrow’s show. I have been given 20 minutes to do that before doing my usual set.”
Though Fassie was open about being a lesbian and led a controversial life of drug abuse, Gotyana feels that she was one of the rare gems that the country has produced.
“I’m not at all condoning what she did with her life, but she was talented and her music spoke to the masses. She was proud of her African heritage and made brilliant music.
“I just wish she could have done it all without the drugs.
“I always say we must be thankful that we have a Constitution that allows us to be in the same space – that is white, black, yellow, brown, pink, green – without attacking one another.
“It is important that we carry this message throughout Africa, where so much intolerance still prevails.”
Gotyana and her six-piece band, The Lucky Charms, will perform Fassie’s songs such as Weekend Special, Promises and Vulindlela before switching to her set.
Based in Cape Town, the singer has also been invited to perform at the Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada on July 3. – Sowetan.