He was first introduced to us as an actor. From on-screen talent to on-mic sensation, he has brought in his all.
Juggling acting and music is no child’s play, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Sandile Mfusi also known as Masandi, pivoted in his music just as his acting career shot for the skies.
Now with his new single out, his ultimate message to everyone is to ‘Bekezela’ which means to patiently hold on even when the going gets tough.
Featuring music sensation Mthandazo Gatya, he says, “I’m hoping that people get the message that life in general as we know it, is challenging. But as much as it is challenging, we need to stay just focused on our paths in this lifetime and that means not looking next door or not looking to your brother or sister and saying, ‘oh something is happening for them and it’s not happening for me’.
“You never know, maybe the next week, the next month or the next year might be your time for things to actually happen the way they’re supposed to happen.”
More than anything, he wants the song “to keep [people] going in whatever insecurities that they have and whatever challenge that they’re going through. Let them have patience, it’s going to happen for them as long as they keep their heads down and they’re focused on what they have to do and trust God.”
Through his music, inspiring, motivating and giving people hope is what he does best. When making this particular song, he couldn’t think of a better person to collaborate with than Mthandazo.
Sitting in the recording studio, the pair weren’t looking for anything in particular but eventually landed on a beat which Masandi felt was “pretty fire”. As directed by him, the producer started refining the beat and the next thing he knew, melodies came rushing to his head.
In no time, the two musicians had put pen to paper as light bulbs kept going on and just like that ‘Bekezela’ was born.
The divinity in it was nothing unfamiliar to Masandi though. The making of his award-winning song was similar.
Speaking to Drum about how the hit song came about, Masandi says, “I wrote the song iThemba towards the end of 2019 at a time when Covid had just begun. I received the beat from a friend of mine named Dj Gukwa. He randomly sent me this beat and after playing it once, I had difficulty believing that he’d actually produced it. After calling him to confirm this, I then played the beat a number of times and on the third time I played it and it simply brought me to tears.”
His tears were merely confirmation to him that he had never connected with a beat at that level. There was an uncontrollable urge to pour his heart out.
“I quickly set up my home studio to record the feelings and message that was burning from within. This song was more of a prayer and a conversation with God that placed me in a position of vulnerability. I do believe that in that moment I was being used as a vessel to share light. As a matter of fact, I had no chance to even write down lyrics but simply sang the song.”
Just before his 2022 came to a close, the song won a Crown Gospel music award.
“It gave me a sense of recognition for all my work over the years and that was special for me.”
Even with his musical journey affirmed in this way, he maintains that “awards are special but I’m not everything, it’s all about fulfilling purpose and living out your dreams.”
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What many might not know is that music is Masandi’s first love and because of that, it holds a more significant place in his heart.
“Both acting and music hold a very significant part in my heart simply because these are two artistries that have been embedded in my DNA for as long as I can remember, however music was the first discovery because coming from a musical family, it almost then becomes generational. One might say that music might hold a bit of a greater value simply because of its impact in the world and how one piece of art can echo and transcend throughout the ages.”
Taking a trip down memory lane, he reminisces on when his musical journey began.
“I began singing at church at the of seven, became the youngest member in the church choir and in primary school. I then picked up brass instruments, firstly the euphonic then becoming a trumpet player in high school. I recorded my first songs in high school, and this was the beginning of my musical recording journey.”
Even as young as he was, he knew that there was more to music than just enjoying the harmonious sounds. As soon as he could in 2009, he pursued it because he knew deep down that the world deserved to hear his gift.
Thus far in addition to winning his first music award, his biggest highlights in the journey have been opening for “superstars” such as Lil Wayne, Fat man scoop, Trey Songs and Rick Ross as well as starting his own independent label, GAGU Entertainment.
For a kid coming from the township of Umlazi in Durban, not even the sky is the limit.
“I’d love to take my musical career to a certified international level and reach heights that I always believed I was capable of. I’d like to break barriers as an artist and represent my country in the greatest way, both as a musician and thespian.”
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Even on his thespian path, successes have been order of the day.
His very first acting role became his biggest break.
When he landed his first acting gig on Isibaya when it was the biggest tv productions in the country, “no one was expecting it”.
It set him up for greater things because for his second acting role on The River, he was head-hunted.
“That, for me, became almost like an affirmation that ‘I’m actually meant to be in this space’,” he admits.
His passion was quickly starting to pay the bills and before he knew it, he had secured more acting roles on Uzalo and The Black Door playing two characters he enjoyed the most – Kwanda and Junior.
It wasn’t all rosey though as the successes also came with lowlights and regrets. At times, Masandi found himself evaluating everything as he manoeuvred through dark spaces.
“The only way I’d snap out of it was by maintaining being spiritually grounded and remember what you’re a doing it for and where you come from.”
And that, has been his consistent secret to success.
