Sandra Ndebele receives vehicle at album launch

ON Thursday evening, Sandra Ndebele-Sibindi launched her seventh album - Izenzo to much pomp and fanfare. Complete with a red carpet, the event contained all the elements required to bring an A list celebrity event to life. The who's who of Bulawayo and Zimbabwe social, political, business and arts scene brought their heads together for the country's long standing queen of dance who, when the time came for her to take to the stage, showed that she had lost none of her zeal and X-factor on stage.

As the cameras snapped, capturing the best moments of the glitzy night, one could not help but think back to the rise of "Sandy", as she is popularly known to many who have been entranced by her energetic dances. In over a decade, Ndebele-Sibindi has transformed from a vivacious stage performer to a business savvy woman capable of holding her own in the cut throat business world.

Thursday's event merely served to confirm her growing stature on the local stage. Dignitaries ranging from guest of honour - Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development, Sithembiso Nyoni to leaders in the arts and business world took the opportunity to laud her for her growth over the years that had seen her tower above her rivals in the Afro pop genre.

For many, their first encounter with Ndebele-Sibindi was seeing her on the video for her smash hit song, Mama. Still a fresh faced girl barely out of her teens, she managed to win the hearts of Zimbabwe with her breathtaking stage presence and catchy song whose popularity spread through the airwaves like wildfire.

When her subsequent hit Malaika was released, her star power was confirmed to those who might have doubted her. Twelve years after those two hits, Thursday's star-studded launch seems a world removed from the events of over a decade ago.

"When I think back to my first hit, it's hard to imagine how I could have got this far. I was looking at the video of that song a few days ago and I couldn't believe my eyes. I looked so dark and seemed like a totally different person," Ndebele-Sibindi said.

She believes the key to her survival in the cut-throat music business has been her ability to brand herself. Indeed the Sandra Ndebele express seems to have gathered steam, especially after she was given a car by Suzuki, a few minutes before she launched her 7th album. In addition to the car, a Suzuki Swift, she was announced as the company's brand ambassador.

"The reason why I've managed to stay in the music industry is because I'm always me. I believe that I've managed to brand myself and that's why I've managed to outlast all the other women in my field, aside from those in the gospel music genre.

"The likes of Beatar and others have all come and gone but I'm still here," she said.

Throughout her career, Ndebele-Sibindi has been plagued by accusations that her type and style of stage performance was too raunchy for those with conservative tastes. However, she said such allegations have never bothered her and were not interfering with her work as she continued to make headway in business.

"People have always had something to say but that has never bothered me. I've never been troubled by the comments people make because I'm focused on what I do, regardless of what they say," she said.

Funnyman and comedian Babongile Sikhonjwa remarked that the diva was no longer in the music industry but was now in the music business. The statement seemed apt as the packed launch, where each person had to pay at least $30, confirmed to those in attendance that Ndebele-Sibindi was now chasing the big dollars.

"In the years that I've been in the music business, I've really learnt a lot. What disappoints me is that I seem to be the only woman, particularly from Bulawayo who seems to be getting this level of success," she said.

She said the situation was dire on the local music scene, as the corporate world was forced to turn to the same faces if they wanted to sponsor artistes.

"Sponsors don't have many female artistes to turn to, that's why Savanna Tobacco decided to sponsor four men - Jah Prayzah, Martin Sibanda, Tocky Vibes and Sulumani Chimbetu because they couldn't find any suitable female artistes to sponsor.

"The business world always turns to people like me because they're only a few female artistes that they can turn to," she said.

The artiste can be counted as a veteran. In an industry that has seen many falter after a few hits, the country's bonafide queen of dance seems to be maturing like fine wine.

With the music industry all but conquered, Ndebele now has her sights on establishing a business empire. If Thursday's launch is anything to go by, she is on the right track.