She hails from the friendly city of Port Elizabeth, in the province of the Eastern Cape South Africa. A third of four children; she received her first exposure to music from her father the late (Thami Fobe); she grew up listening to her father’s music collection of Jazz, Maskhandi, Soul and R& B vinyls.
She has been singing at family gatherings and in a school choir throughout her schooling years.
Her introduction into the music industry was cultivated by the association with the late veteran musician Vuyisile Dikana. Dikana mentored her in music and her debut performance was with and the Blaze jazz band in 2001. She has performed in many clubs scenes in Port Elizabeth including the Speak Easy lounge, a repertoire that consisted of their own material and some cover versions.
She performed at the annual spring’s festival in Uitenhage and Splash festival in Summerstrand beach. Her sound is versatile but mostly Afro jazz and Reggae. She has performed in big South African festivals like the Grahamstown National Arts festival. She has also performed in the production of Monde Ngonyama, taking a lead role in the Thuthula Musical. The Musical is based on a true story about two Xhosa kings who were rivals.
Qhawe has spread her wings in South Africa and not only confined to the Eastern Cape as can be seen from the list of her performances. She (with the Mojazz Band) has performed in most of the festivals including the Free State Province where the Macufe Festival is held annually in Bloemfontein.
She has performed with many artists and made collaborations with the late Stompie Mavi, in musical video of the song ˜Umendo with vocals and dance. Qhawe is passionate about Musical Development and has started involving the youth in her music. This included the involvement in a music workshop to empower school children from the disadvantaged communities. This took place at the internationally acclaimed Red Location Museum building. She is currently recording her debut album with a Zimbabwean born producer who has international exposure through working with Capleton, Beenie Man, Konshens and Fontan Mojah. In Port Elizabeth at Dash nite club she performed with Bionic sound Crew. She be rocking it at the Royal Offerings event at Hoza community hall, with sisters from Gauteng and Durban. She is still at the studio working also with Bongani Tulwana who is a music genius, doing collaborations with local artists.
Qhawe is a composer, a co-producer and arranger and she released a single album Isengabo where she worked with artists like Negus-I; Bongani Tulwana of Blaze Jazz band and Vincent Fraser. Her thought provoking lyrics are sung in different voices and touching melodies. Listening to the tracks you can hear the maturity in the lyrics as she sings about social, love and spiritual issues. Her music is inspired by the sounds of Busi Mhlongo, LettaMbuli, Bob Marley and the late Miriam Makeba. Qhawe is a very spiritual and politically conscious artist and this certainly manifests itself in her music.
She moved to Canada in 2014 where she is currently enrolled at the McEwan University studying Music and doing her vocal training at the Academy of Music in Alberta.
Qhawe, [meaning warrior in her native language isiXhosa] is a musical warrior who renders melodies that touches and heals souls.
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Email: mrpromoarts@gmail.com
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