By Style Reporter
In his song titled The Power of a Smile, the late American rapper Tupac Shakur sings: The power of a gun can kill, And the power of fire can burn, The power of wind can chill, And the power of the mind can learn, The power of anger can rage inside, Until it tears you apart, But the power of a smile, Especially yours, can heal a frozen heart.
For local artiste, Feli Nandi, the smile is the beginning of love. For her, it’s something natural.
“I am ever smiling. I don’t know anything else, but to smile since l was a baby,” Nandi, a backing vocalist at Mbeu’s Mhodzi Tribe, told Standard Style last week.
“I am a very positive person, so I am always feeling awesome and seeing goodness out of every situation, hence the smile.”
A mother of two boys, Nandi said she is happy working with a youthful outfit like Mhodzi Tribe, which she described as a family.
“Being a member of the Tribe has been life-changing. It’s an amazing journey, which has led me to self-discovery. The guys work so hard and I have been learning how to connect and learn from each and every one of them,” she said.
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“Mhodzi Tribe is like a family, things are done with so much teamwork, concern and love for every one of us. It has been great.”
She described her boss Mbeu as one of a rare breed of emerging artistes in the country.
“Mbeu is a teacher and a friend driven by passion and focus. Every other single day whether we are in the studio or we are rehearsing, there is always something new to learn from him,” she said.
“We don’t know everything, so we discuss things and negotiate issues. He is very patient with his mates and easy to get along with.”
Mbeu is riding high on the music scene following the release of his latest 10-track album titled Hatikendenge. A protégé of the Pakare Paye Arts Centre, the youthful artiste is one of the most sought-after musicians in the country at the moment, but Nandi said the band’s tight schedule was not disturbing her role as a mother.
“Being a mother and a musician is like managing an exciting challenge. It’s not easy, but very possible to love and be available for both. When I’m at home I’m a simple girl, who cleans, cooks and plays around with the boys, and when we get on stage, things change and we work,” she said.
“My husband has been a pillar of strength, my greatest fan actually. Balancing home and my career has been made flawless with his support.”
Nandi, who is passionate about charity, particularly orphans, says just like any other woman in the music industry, she faces challenges.
“Yes, as a woman in the music industry, we do meet challenges, a lot of them. However, at the end of the day, the answer lies within one as an individual to focus on their goal. When you know what you want to achieve, you step on these thorns, get hurt, but you keep going,” she said.
The ever-smiling backing vocalist says at the moment she is committed to Mhodzi Tribe.
“I have never thought of a solo career. As of now, I am focused on sharpening my skills and learning various instruments,” she said.
“To young ladies, join the music industry when you know what you want to become. Anything is possible. You can be whatever you want to be, but the secret is knowing what it is and taking the first step.”
She invited Mhodzi Tribe fans for a date at Pakare Paye Arts Centre on Saturday.
“We will be in Norton for a close-up with our fans gig on July 6, so everyone is invited,” she said.
