Amanda Faku - Biography, Career and Songs

Fortune Samuel | July 1, 2024 | Biography | No Comments

Amanda Faku is a South African singer, performer, and songwriter. She grew up in the township of eZinyoka in Port Elizabeth. Amanda developed an interest in music at the young age of six and took part in church choirs. Her journey to fame began when she became a contestant on The Voice SA season 2 in 2017, which helped her gain recognition in the music industry.

After signing a record deal with The Vth Season, Amanda released her debut studio album, "Imali," in 2019. The album debuted at number one in South Africa and was later certified Gold by the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA).

In 2020, Mail & Guardian ranked Amanda Faku number 27 on their list of 200 Young South Africans.

Early Childhood

Amanda Faku was born on May 28, 1993, in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. She is currently 31 years old. From a young age, Amanda showed a strong passion for music. At just six years old, she began singing in a house church where her father was the pastor. Her musical influences include church music, reggae, and hip hop.

In early 2012, Amanda began recording music. Conveniently, her producer lived only a few blocks away from her home, making it easier for her to pursue her music career.

Career Beginnings and Achievements

Amanda Faku’s big break came in 2017 when she competed in the TV talent show, The Voice SA. Although she did not win, her performance caught the attention of The Vth Season record label, which signed her. Following her success on the show, Amanda released her debut single, "Ndikhethe Wena." She later collaborated with De Mogul SA on the song "Ungowam."

On January 31, 2020, Amanda was featured in the single "uWrongo" by South African DJ Prince Kaybee, alongside Shimza and Black Motion. The song achieved gold certification from the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) with sales of 25,000 units. Amanda also worked with South African DJ and producer Sun-El Musician on the song "Into Ingawe," which was certified 3× platinum by RiSA.

On August 16, 2020, Amanda released the single "Inde Lendlela," which later received platinum certification. Following this, on September 26, 2020, she released the single "Imali" featuring Blaq Diamond, which also achieved platinum status. Her debut studio album, "Imali," was released on September 27, 2020. The album, which was produced by Blaq Diamond, Sun-El Musician, 37MPH, Eternal Africa, and Wilson, was certified gold.

In November 2020, Amanda was nominated for Best Female in Southern Africa and Best Newcomer at the African Muzik Magazine Awards. That same year, she was recognized as the most-streamed female artist in South Africa by Deezer. On August 21, 2020, Amanda released her EP titled "EA Wave Reimagines," followed by the single "Never Let You Go" with Wichi 1080 on October 31.

Amanda continued her musical journey in 2021, releasing the single "Lala Ngoxolo" featuring South African rapper Emtee on January 22. In September 2021, she was featured on the song "Abalele" by Kabza de Small and DJ Maphorisa, which debuted at number 4 on Spotify Charts. In October 2021, she collaborated with singer Sha Sha on Nomfundo Moh's single "Phakade Lami" and contributed to the African Lullabies Part 1 compilation album by Platoon. In November 2021, she teamed up again with Kabza de Small and DJ Maphorisa for the single "Asibe Happy."

Amanda's single "Fatela," released on October 28, 2022, in collaboration with Aymos, was certified platinum in South Africa.