Amanda Black

Amanda Black is known for her unapologetic, socially conscious songs, like her 2016 breakout single, “Amazulu”. Black was born Amanda Benedicta Antony in 1983 in Mbatha and grew up in Butterworth, both in the Eastern Cape. Inspired by Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Brandy and the late South African music legend Brenda Fassie, Black’s sound combines African rhythms and soul music. But as a tribute to her Xhosa heritage, she wears stipples of Xhosa facial art on her face and performs in Xhosa and English. In 2016, the Idols South Africa alum released her debut album, Amazulu, which incorporates elements of Afropop and R&B on songs about life challenges and heartbreak. After Amazulu’s title track made her a bona fide star in South Africa, she continued to cultivate a reputation for her relatable lyrics and songs about women empowerment with her second album, Power, in 2019. “Power is bold, brave and honest. It’s a collection of sounds I think can heal a lot of souls,” Black told Apple Music.