Nandy (singer)

Nandy (born November 9, 1992) is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter. She won the All Africa Music Awards in the best female artist in East Africa category in 2017.[1][2]

Nandy
Nandy on stage at the Fiesta Concert in Dodoma, Tanzania, 2017
Background information
Birth name	Faustina Charles Mfinanga
Born	(1992-11-09)November 9, 1992 (age 27) Mawenzi, Moshi, Tanzania
Occupation(s)	Tanzanian Artist Singer Songwriter Activist actress
Years active	2013–present
Musical career
Genres	Bongo flava
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Epic Tanzania
Associated acts	Aslay Madee Mr. Blue Bright Chege J Melody

Early life

Nandy was born in Moshi, Tanzania to Mary Charles, a tailor and Charles Mfinanga, a mechanic. The name Nandy is shortened from her real name Nandera. She started performing at a very tender age. At 5 years of age, she was an active member of her Sunday school choir at KKKT Lutheran church in Moshi. She attended Mawenzi Primary School and later joined Lomwe High School where she became the head of School choir. After high school, she joined College of Business Education (CBE), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Career

Tanzania House of Talent

Her career in music kicked off when a common friend introduced her to Ruge Mutahaba, CEO of Tanzania House of Talent (THT). This is where she met Emma the Boy, who produced her first mainstream single, Nagusagusa.The song became a huge hit within a week of its release.

In early 2016 she participated in a singing competition Tecno own the stage. The contest featured contestants from all over Africa and during the finals in Lagos, Nigeria, Nandy emerged as the first runner-up. The competition groomed her well music wise, as she gained performance confidence, and also acquired essential knowledge of the music industry from the musical tutors and mentors such as chocolate City's M.I Abaga, Yemi Alade and Bien of Sauti Sol.[3][4]

In 2017 she released her hit single One Day which spearheaded her career and gave her a couple of opportunities as she was one of the few artist who participated in Coke Studio Africa in 2017 and later the same year she was nominated in the All Africa Music Awards as best female eastern Africa and won.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

Goodwill Ambassador

She is currently Tanzania's Goodwill ambassador for UNICEF's water, sanitation and hygiene programme (WASH) that works in over 100 countries worldwide to improve water and sanitation services, as well as basic hygiene practices. The programme focuses on providing people with clean water and basic toilets.

Controversies

In April 2018, Nandy and fellow Tanzanian singer, Billnas were briefly detained by the Tanzanian authorities for sharing what they considered as being indecent or obscene content online.[11] She has been one of the few singers and also actress on a most viewed series called(huba) and most of the time she has appeared in most listened female artist (Boomplay). Her struggles has made her one the most leading Tanzanian female artist singer to ever been listened and streamed in East Africa. Earlier in April 2020 her fellow singer Billnas proposed to her on a live show which made a lot of buzz and excitement to fans that they never thought they would ever be engaged in such a republic world but it happened. Nandy herself reacted so happy about her fellow singer proposing in front of the audience and promised to fight for her love whatever it takes whether in the bad or good.

On july 2020 she announced that she would have something special to tell her fans on something that she dreamt since her childhood it was a date 23rd N.B,it kept fans wondering what is was that she has been hiding all this time never the less no one could figure it out.We did her wearing a bridal dress but how is that possible for her to get married in such a rush,billnass her boyfriend also posted about the event and well dressed,but on 23rd everything came out open,it nandy bridal.People were very happy for her including her beloved mother,she said in public it was always a dream for her daughter one day.

Discography

Singles

• I'm Confident (2013)
• Nagusa gusa (2017)
• One Day (2017)[12]
• Wasikudanye (2017)
• Kivuruge (2017)[13]
• Ninogeshe (2018)[14]
• Aibu (2018)
• hazipo(2019)
• haleluya(2019)
• kiza kinene(2019)
• kata(2020)
• na nusu
• acha lizame ft harmonize
• dozi

Awards and nominations

Year	Award Ceremony	Prize	Work/Recipient	Result
2017	All Africa Music Awards[1][2]	Best Female Artist East Africa	Nandy	Won
2018	AMI Awards Afrika[15]	Best Female Newcomer	Nandy	Won

References

1. "AFRIMA 2017: Full list of winners". Music in Africa. November 13, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
2. Azaniapost. "Bongo Flava: Ali Kiba, Nandy win awards at AFRIMA in Nigeria". Azaniapost (in Turkish). Retrieved May 12, 2018.
3. "29-year-old wins $25K, recording deal". pulse.ng. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
4. "Tanzania: Heartbreak for Tanzania's Nandy in Lagos". allafrica.com. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
5. "MEET THE AFRICAN PRINCESS". coca-cola.co.ke. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
6. "Nandy: Mane Fitsum (Cover) – Coke Studio Africa". coca-colacompany.com. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
7. "Aslay – Subalkheri Mpenzi Ft Nandy". celebvibestar.co.ke. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
8. "Coke Studio Africa 2017 Officially Launches in Ethiopia". ethiosports.com. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
9. "Nandy and AliKiba shine at Afrima". thecitizen.co.tz. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
10. "Nandy atamani kuwa kama Beyonce". mwananchi.co.tz (in Swahili). Retrieved May 4, 2018.
11. "Popular Tanzanian singer arrested in latest internet crackdown". Sunday Times (Johannesburg). Retrieved May 4, 2018.
12. "Nandy – One Day". notjustok.com. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
13. "New Music: Nandy – Kivuruge". uplandradiofm.com (in Swahili). Retrieved May 4, 2018.
14. "Nandy – Ninogeshe". tooxclusive.com.ng. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
15. "AMI Awards Afrika 2018 full nominee list". whatshappeningmagazineug.com. Retrieved May 4, 2018.