Thabsie Reinvents Herself as an R&B Artist After a Decade in Afro-pop

For the past decade, Thabsie has been celebrated as one of South Africa’s leading Afro-pop voices. Her name became synonymous with hits such as Kwesta’s Ngiyaz’fela Ngawe, JR’s Macala, and her own African Queen. But behind the success, the Cape Town-born singer always dreamed of pursuing R&B. Now, she is ready to embrace that vision fully.

Inspired by the rise of Elaine, Nanette, Shekhinah, and Tyla, Thabsie is working on new music that leans heavily into the soulful, contemporary R&B sound she wanted to release ten years ago. Fans can expect to hear it around her birthday in November. “I doubted myself in the beginning and didn’t go with what I wanted to do. I allowed people to dictate my path. Now I’m no longer making music to fit a mould,” she says.

Thabsie’s soothing voice made her an in-demand collaborator, but she admits her Afro-pop reputation was unplanned. After she dropped her R&B single Cry, it did not resonate widely. When she released African Queen, which included vernac, it became a hit. “I had to change my direction. That was the lane I fell into,” she explains.

Her journey started in a musical household. She began writing songs at the age of eight and always assumed music was part of daily life. After moving to Johannesburg, she studied economics at the University of Johannesburg, where she entered choral competitions and earned money doing backing vocals for artists such as Donald, ProVerb, Khuli Chana, and Cassper Nyovest. She also recorded with Sipho “Psyfo” Ngwenya. Despite being shy, she says those years prepared her for the stage.

Thabsie later worked in banking, but two months into her honours degree she quit, opting for an investment job that lasted only two years. In December 2015, she left finance altogether. A month later, Kwesta released Ngiyaz’fela Ngawe, which she had recorded years earlier. The single became a mega hit and launched her career as a sought-after vocalist.

In 2020, another twist arrived. The Covid-19 lockdown forced her off stage, so she turned to digital content creation. “I started creating content for free. I had 200k to 300k followers before lockdown and by the end, I had reached 1 million,” she says. The shift grew her fan base and helped her secure fashion and beauty partnerships, aligning with her interests outside music.

Away from the spotlight, the 33-year-old is a wife, celebrating her 10th wedding anniversary this year. She has no children but adores her four dogs. “I don’t cook or clean. I just spend time with my husband. I love being minimalist and doing things that bring peace,” she says.

Her fitness and style often spark speculation on social media, with many suggesting cosmetic surgery. She clears the air, admitting only to a breast augmentation earlier this year. “I’ve wanted them since I was 21. I’m very honest about it. I can’t believe I get BBL allegations; I’m so small, where would I get the fat from?” she says.

Looking ahead, Thabsie is preparing to launch her own clothing label. The athleisure brand, in development for two years, aims to redefine activewear while reflecting her minimalist lifestyle.

With her return to R&B and plans in fashion, Thabsie is taking control of her artistry and brand. For her, this new era is about authenticity, gratitude, and finally making the music she always wanted the world to hear.