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SOUTH Africa's queen of pop, Brenda Fassie, continued to influence the music industry a few weeks after her death when her blockbuster album Memeza emerged as the best-selling album of the decade at the 2004 Sama awards ceremony yesterday.

The honour bestowed on Brenda by the South African Music Awards (Sama) came as no surprise to fans of the star who was cremated last week.
   The award, made public at the Sun City Superbowl in Rustenburg, once more emphasised Brenda's abundant talent and the fact that she was one of a kind and would be sorely missed.

Her hit song Vulindlela was also a strong contender for Song of the Decade, where competition was stiff.

Vulindlela competed against songs by Hugh Masekela (Thanayi), Mafikizolo (Ndihamba Nawe), Phuzekhemisi no Khethani (Imbizo), Ringo (Sondela), Bayethe (Mmalo - We), Arthur (Kaffir), TKZee (Dlala Mapantsula) and Vicky Sampson (African Dream).

Memeza was inspired by the death of Brenda's lesbian lover Poppie Sihlahla in 1997. After Poppie's death from an overdose of cocaine, Brenda started recording what was to be her comeback album, Memeza, in 1999.

Vulindlela was so successful that Brenda, known as Mabrrr to friends and fans, could afford to build a luxurious house in an upmarket Johannesburg suburb.

Her brother Themba reacted with mixed feelings when asked what he thought of Brenda's success in the Sama awards.

"As her family, we are still in mourning. But there is a feeling of pride and joy at the honour bestowed on her," was Themba's curt response to City Press last night.

The album Memeza was produced by Sello "Chicco" Twala, the man widely recognised as Brenda's saviour. It was he who stepped in when Brenda's star was on the wane, and their combination seemed to hit the right note as they continued releasing one hit after another.

In recent times, however, their relationship was troubled and Twala's absence from Brenda's funeral last week was a source of concern.

Brenda was also nominated for artist of the year and song of the year for Ntsware Mo, which features on her last album, Mali. The results were not known at the time of going to print yesterday.

Other competitors in this category were Kabelo (Zonke), Mafikizolo (Emlanjeni) and Malaika (Mhla Uphelamandla).

The head of CCP Records, Orrack Chabangu, said it was an honour for the company and Brenda for the late singer to have won the award for song of the decade.

She fully deserved the award because she had been a star throughout the decade, he added.

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