She is a carbon-copy of her grandmother, Brenda Fassie and not only that, but she also inherited her talent, beauty, and style. Singer and songwriter Gemma Fassie only found out recently that she was related to the legendary Vuli Ndlela singer. "Brenda was my grandfather's sister, so Bongani is my uncle,' she told DJ Keyes during an interview on Kaya 959.?

GOING VIRAL

People got to learn of the young star after Brenda's son Bongani Fassie posted a video of her on social media. "I posted a video on my stories and people were commenting asking me to repost it. I had it up for 30 minutes. I don't like watching myself sing but I posted it again. Bongani surprised me and reposted it.' To her surprise, the video went viral. She was a baby, around six years old when Brenda Fassie died but she hears stories of how they look so much alike and have the same mannerisms. Gemma started singing in church at six years old. Her brother Robyn Fassie has been making music for as long as she can remember playing for the Cape Coons (Kaapse Klopse), he studied music, travelled, and has been her biggest inspiration.' 

POWER IN A NAME

Gemma says she is only understanding the power behind the Fassie surname now that she has hit mainstream. At first, she called herself just Gemma and Gem. She decided to include her real surname Fassie after a friend encouraged her to own the surname. "I need to understand the intensity of the surname and looking like Brenda, I can't see it, but I get people. I have seen her pictures, but is it really like that?' Gemma lot of people walk up to her and tell her how much she looks like the late legend who died in May 2004 from an asthma attack that started in April at home that led to heart failure and brain damage. Unlike the Afo-pop star, Gemma sings contemporary.