Faustina Charles Mfinanga, popularly known by her stage name Nandy, is a Tanzanian singer, songwriter, composer, performer, recording artist and the founder of The African Princess Record Label. Nandy is here with a world class banger dubbed Follow.
Listen to Nandy – Follow (Audio)
Download | Nandy – Follow (Audio)
Did you know?
The year 2022 was historic for Nandy.
Among the things Nandy did on this particular year was to release an Extended Playlist ‘EP’ dubbed ‘Maturity’ with five songs in which she featured artists like C Natty, Nviiri, Lody Music, Dulla Makabila and Oxlade from Nigeria.
This is Nandy’s third EP in her music catalogue, she first released Wanibariki EP’ followed by ‘Taste EP’ which both were released in 2021. Her debut studio album dubbed ‘The African Princess’ was released in 2018 under exclusive partnership with Epic Records.
Speaking of Tanzanian stars who are always ready to push it beyond their limits, no wonder the name Nandy must pop up in your head. She’s gone further to run her own festival in the country. She toured numerous cities like Arusha for her Nandy Festival, featuring the A-list local artistes like Tanzania’s finest Alikiba, who is considered the ‘King of Bongo Flava’. Fun fact is Nandy ran the shows while she was pregnant.
Download: Alikiba – SUMU (Audio) ft. Marioo
The year 2022 was a year of success to the African Princess, she had lots of accomplishments to celebrate. Here are some of the achievements she just got in this particular historic year.
1. Receiving Grammy’s recognition certificate
Earlier on August, 2023, Nandy received a certificate from the Recording Academy, the organizers of the Grammy Awards as she was featured in the song dubbed Melanin by by Jamaica’s very own Etana. Melanin is a track no 3 from Etana’s studio album titled ‘Pamoja’ which won Grammy’s Awards as the Best Reggae Album 2021.
The certificate meant that Grammy Awards recognized The African Princess for her contribution and collaboration in the making of the ‘Pamoja’ album that emerged to be a masterpiece worth the Grammy’s Best Reggae Album Award.
This is the first time that Nandy has received the same honor as the Sauti Sol group from Kenya who were featured in the Burna Boy’s ‘Twice As Tall’ album, that won the Grammy Awards 2021 in the category of Best World Music Album.
Download: Marioo – SHISHA (Audio) ft. Mr. Nice
GRAMMY’S are the most prestigious and the biggest music awards in the globe that were first presented on May 4, 1959, while they were known as the Gramophone Awards, with its main objective being to recognize achievements in the music industry.
2. Getting Married
On July 16, 2022, Nandy and her Fiancé, Billnass got married in the church of the KKKT Eastern Diocese and Pwani Usharika wa Mbezi Beach, and the wedding was held at the Mlimani City hall with A-list Tanzanian stars in attendance.
Billnass officially engaged Nandy on February 20, 2022 when he put an engagement ring on her in front of both families in the city of Dar es Salaam for six years of their relationship, although there was a period when they broke up and got back together.
This is the first marriage for both of them, so it is an indelible history for them, it is a year that Nandy cannot forget easily. For the first time, the two met in 2016 at the College of Business (CBE) Dar es Salaam where Billnass was studying.
Download: Marioo – Love Song (Audio) ft. Alikiba
However, official relations started at the Fiesta Festival in Mbeya, although they did not make it clear at that time more haunted by long rumors.
3. Winning TMA
After seven years of absence in Tanzania’s music industry, this year they returned to the Tanzania Music Awards (TMA) which took place in March and Nandy won four awards in a row making her the only female artist who won the more than awards.
Nandy won the categories of Best Bongo Flava Female Artist of the Year, Best Female Artist of the Year and Best Female People’s Choice Artist on Social Media – while Darassa’s monster hit dubbed “Loyalty” featuring Nandy and Marioo winning as Best Collaboration Song.
This is the first time for Nandy to win local awards (Tanzania) because when she rose to fame, the Tanzania’s prestigious awards famously known as Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music Awards had stopped.
Download: Alikiba – Mnyama (Audio)
However, she had won more than three international awards from the All Africa Music Awards famously known as AFRIMA and African Muzik Magazine Awards (AfRIMMA) as Best Female Artist in East Africa.
4. Giving birth
Shortly after getting married, Nandy was blessed with her first newborn who since her birthday in August, she had completely kept her away from the paparazzi’s and in the social media world.
For the first time Nandy showed her pregnancy in July when they visited the zoo, the existing Serval Wildlife in Siha, Kilimanjaro where they did a ‘photoshoot’ that caught the attention of the netizens.
Her fans are eagerly waiting to see Nandy sing to her daughter just like Beyonce did in her song dubbed ‘Blue’ after giving birth to her first child, Blue Ivy Carter (2012).
The same year blessed female Bongo stars with children. Some of these stars include Jacqueline Wolper, Tunda, Elizabeth Michael ‘Lulu, Amber Lulu and Vanessa Mdee.
Is Nandy on league with Zuchu?
Nandy’s act to sign a new talent in her music empire, The Africa Princess, was considered by her fanbase as deliberate aggression for the WCB very own queen, Zuchu who has been her music rival since she rose to fame in Bongo flava music scene.
Ealier on January 20, 2023, Nandy welcomed Yammi into the African Princess family, who then released her debut EP dubbed ‘Three Hearts’. The EP three songs that have not featured any artist.
RELATED: Zuchu – Honey (Audio)
One day after the incident, Zuchu appeared on TV announcing that on January 27 she will have her thing, without making it clear what exactly she will come with.
However, the feeling of many is that Zuchu will not answer the attacks following Nandy’s aggression to to introduce Yammia who sings the Baibuda tone, the singing style is dominantly used by Zuchu.
Zuchu once told Wasafi FM that she was proud of her singing style in Baibuda ‘tone’, she believes it is her style that distinguishes her from other female artists, and that is what attracted Diamond Platnumz to sign her in the label.
