Amanda Black facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amanda Black
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| Birth name | Amanda Benedicta Antony |
| Born | 24 July 1993 Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa |
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| Years active | 2015–present |
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Amanda Benedicta Antony (born on July 24, 1993), known as Amanda Black, is a talented singer and songwriter from South Africa. She started singing in church choirs at age six. Amanda became well-known after appearing on Idols South Africa in 2015.
In 2016, she moved to Johannesburg to focus on her music. She signed a deal with Ambitiouz Entertainment. That same year, her hit song "Amazulu" made her famous. Her first album, also called Amazulu, was a big success. It won several awards, including "Album of the Year". In 2019, she was the most-streamed artist on Apple Music. Her third album, Mnyama, came out in 2021.
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Early Life and School
Amanda Benedicta Antony is from the Xhosa group. She was born on July 24, 1993, in Mthatha, South Africa. She grew up in Butterworth and East London.
Later, she moved to Port Elizabeth. She finished high school at Kabega Christian School. After that, she studied Music Education at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
Music Journey
Amanda started singing when she was very young. She sang in church and at school. When she turned 12, she began joining talent shows. These shows helped her learn how to perform on stage.
Starting Her Career: 2015-2018
Amanda tried out for Idols South Africa three times. She became a fan favorite in Season 11, reaching the top 7. To follow her dream, she moved to Johannesburg in 2016. There, Ambitiouz Entertainment offered her a music contract.
On July 1, 2016, she released her first official song, "Amazulu". This song was from her first album. The music video for "Amazulu" got over 4 million views on YouTube. Her album, Amazulu, came out on November 11, 2016. It was very popular and got great reviews.
Within a month, the album sold over 31,000 copies. This earned it a platinum award from the Recording Industry of South Africa. The album also received many nominations for music awards. She was even nominated for a BET Award in 2017. In 2018, she released another song called "Kahle," which also got over a million views on YouTube.
Growing as an Artist: 2019-2020
In December 2018, American singer Anthony Hamilton announced he was working with Amanda Black. On January 30, 2019, Amanda shared that she had signed with Sony Music Entertainment. She then released her single "Thandwa Ndim". This was her first new song in two years. It quickly reached number one on the local iTunes charts.
In 2020, Amanda worked with singer Berita on the song "Siyathandana". Her album Power won "Best Album of the Year" at the South African Afro Music Awards.
New Albums: 2021-Present
On June 4, 2021, Amanda released "Kutheni Na" featuring Kwesta. This was the second song from her upcoming album. On July 2, 2021, her third single "Let It Go" came out. Her third album, Mnyama, was released on August 6, 2021.
Her fourth album, From My Soil To Yours, was released on November 17, 2023. It was made with her long-time producers Christer Kobedi and Vaughan Fourie. The album includes different music styles like R&B, Afro-pop, and soul. It featured two singles: "Nguwe" and "Love is for Mahala".
Her Unique Style
Music Style
Amanda Black started singing in church when she was young. She loved singing songs by artists like Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, and Brenda Fassie. She sings in both Xhosa and English. Amanda describes her music as Afro-soul. It mixes elements of hip-hop, soul, and R&B.
In an interview, her music producer Christer Kobedi said her first album Amazulu was made in just over a month. Amanda also shared that the song "Amazulu" was the first song she ever wrote in her home language, Xhosa.
Facial Art
Amanda Black often paints her face with special Stipple patterns. These patterns are a type of Xhosa face paint. She does this to show how proud she is of her heritage. Xhosa facial art, called umchokozo, is mostly done by women. It used to be for special events, but in some areas, it's an everyday practice.
Amanda says this facial art has become part of her identity as Amanda Black. It started as a way for her to express herself and accept who she is. For her, it's about celebrating her culture as a Xhosa woman. It helps her feel beautiful and represents her roots.
When she was younger, Amanda didn't like her dark skin. She felt that TV often showed light skin as more beautiful. But she started learning about her Xhosa roots and history. This helped her understand herself and love herself as an African woman. This new self-love also influenced her art. It changed how she writes, makes music, and tells stories through her songs. Amanda began to truly embrace herself after reading about Steve Biko’s Black Consciousness.
Discography
- Amazulu (2016)
- Power (2019)
- Mnyama (2021)
- From My Soil To Yours (2023)
