Surviving seven hour surgery

Langalakhe Mabena

When the doctors told her that she has a brain tumour, celebrated South Africa-based producer and wheel-spinner DJ Zandimaz quickly concluded that it was the end of the world for her.

The symptoms and a seizure experience she had while touring the (UK) in 2022 got her scared and had anxiety, thinking the tumour will grow to a cancer that will claim her life.

A brain tumour is a growth of cells in the brain that multiplies in an abnormal and uncorrectable way. As the tumour grows, it creates pressure and changes the function of surrounding brain tissue, which causes signs and symptoms such as headaches, nausea and balance problems, something that DJ Zandimaz experienced.

“I underwent surgery in early March (2024) after experiencing a seizure while touring the UK in 2022 and another, weeks later while in Zambia,” said Zandimaz.

“We thought it was just fatigue and that was when I went to see my doctor and they discovered I have a tumour. For a year, I took a break, then things got worse as I had anxiety and it was triggering my nervous system. I was going through different types of emotions. I couldn’t walk properly.

“I went back to my doctor again and they told me it was getting to a point where they couldn’t do anything about it. The operation could have been fatal and I was praying for it to be successful. It was a seven-hour surgery, I stayed in the ICU for five days then went home,” said DJ Zandimaz.

The Ngifuna Wena hitmaker revealed that the tumour saw her taking a pause in staging performances as well as producing and recording music and that led to her getting depressed.

She said her husband has been a pillar of strength as he has been supportive all the way from when the time the tumour was realised, through going under the knife and on her recovery.

“The sickness saw me taking a long break in the industry because I couldn’t perform as I couldn’t stand for long and couldn’t wear heels. My confidence went down, it frustrated me. A lot of people were not aware I was going through hectic stuff. I am glad that I am now home and recovering,” she said.

As a way of making ends meet, in 2023, Zandimaz ventured into music promotion and she managed to bring two big acts to Bulawayo at Cosmopolitan VIP Club as she brought Mzansi’s Tyler ICU and Dlala Thukzin in August and December, respectively.