Malawian singer finds her feet in SA
Blantyre-born musician Reedivah Queen said she is determined to rock the South African music scene after a successful debut last weekend where she performed at two events in Durban.
The musician, real name Rejoice Banda, launched her career in Swaziland as part of the girl duo De Shinely Queens alongside Swazi singer Shinely Greens.
The pair recently relocated to Durban from where they seek to relaunch their careers.
De Shinely Queens performed at a Durban July Warm Up party last week alongside some of the finest South African musicians such as Lungsta and Andile-T. They also performed at a Durban July Kwesta Party on July 1 alongside Black Motion, Professor and Junior Da Rocka.
According to Reedivah Queen, the plan is to shoot music videos for South Africa television.
“We came to Durban to meet a promoter who works with some top South African artists such as DJ Zinhle. We eventually met another promoter named Fox who was thrilled when he listened to our tracks. And he has since pledged to help us find our feet in South Africa by getting us shows,” she said.
De Shinely Queens became a household name on the Swaziland music scene after the success of their party hits—I Do My Thing which is an electro dance-rap song, The Power Of Love a slow jam riding on R’n’B sound and an Afro pop dance song Celebrate.
Reedivah Queen said the duo would love to come and perform in Malawi if they are invited.
“We would like Malawian promoters to invite us for some gigs. We have performed in Swaziland many times and the people there love our music. So, I’ll love to be invited to perform in my country of origin,” she said.
The 25-year-old was born to the now deceased parents who nurtured her music passion.
She recounted her journey plucked through the miseries of being an orphan, to staying with her grandmother—a journey of over a thousand miles via Zimbabwe.
“Reedivah Queen is my stage name which means the female hustler. My mother used to refer to me as a Queen…which is why I had to give myself the name,” she said.
Reedivah Queen says the tri-nations upbringing exposed her to the vast life of African cultures traversely building her music career.
