They don’t come any more controversial than Sandra Ndebele. Last weekend Sandy was in town for a couple of sold-out shows plus the highly-publicised charity match. She, fortunately enough, found time to speak to Prince Mushawevato,

PM: Hello, Sandra, and welcome to the capital.

SN: Hello and thank you for hosting us.

PM: You have been on the low side, what has been happening?

SN: I had taken a back seat to recharge my batteries and I’m back in full force. I want to fill the gap that has been created between female and male artistes in the music industry.

PM: You are saying you are back in full force, why had you gone quiet in the first place?

SN: Journalists are to blame for my predicament. The negative publicity they subjected me to a couple of years ago forced me to temporarily hibernate. It had almost become difficult for me to make public appearances.

PM: What kind of negative publicity are you talking about? Is it not argued that publicity is publicity?

SN: Not all publicity is good, in most instances the media concentrate on the downside of an artiste, and that is not good, it destroys careers.

PM: Ok, for the record, media do not concentrate on negative aspects only, but just report on events as they unfold.

SN: Yes, I understand, but will it not be ok for you guys to just let some of these things pass? Bad publicity affected me, particularly at the turn of the millennium. I think the way you look at us is just not right. When Beyonce performs in revealing costumes you praise, but if I do the same, it is viewed as taboo, maybe you are over-protective. That same regalia that you criticise me for is the same that is used in South Africa, and I don’t see anything wrong.

PM: You said you are back to make a mark, what do you have in store for us?

SN: I am working on a new 10-track album titled “No Matter”. The album carries on it gospel tracks and I will also be working on a new video album.

PM: Gospel tracks!

SN: (chuckles) Yes, three gospel tracks to be precise. I have always included a gospel track on all my albums, by the way, I go to church and I’m a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA).

PM: Oh, that’s good. We have had reports about Sandra Ndebele planning to quit the showbiz, what is the position?

SN: I have never talked to anyone about giving up music. I don’t know where these reports emanate from. Music is a passion and addictive, I’m not quitting anytime soon.

PM: You once got an offer from a certain businessman to leave secular music and record a full gospel album, what happened?

SN: Delma Lupepe did not give me an offer he just gave me a quotation on the cost of recording a gospel album. After passing the quotation, he rushed and told the media that he had extended an offer for me to record a gospel album. Would you call a quotation an offer or it’s just normal business practice? We receive quotations from different business people on a daily basis and his was not any different.

PM: Some sections of society label you as a spent force?

SN: Publicity is crucial in showbiz and without the media, we are doomed. People should get to appreciate that with women, things change from the time you are a girl, up to the stage you give birth and become a mother. One cannot expect me to act on stage as I did some 10 years or so back. Surely things change, but I am still at the top of my game. Those that have had the privilege of attending my shows will testify. I have since modified my act to meet latest trends. I can still perform the same routines I did some 10 years ago, but one thing for certain is the pace might have been reduced due to the factors highlighted earlier. However, I have girls who are equal to the task.

PM: How did you become involved in music?

SN: I became involved in the arts industry in 2000 when I was with Iyasa before I went solo in 2003. My first album was Tshaya-Tshaya followed by Ekhaya, Bub-Encane, Ayoyoyo, and Life Goes On.

PM: Which is your best album or song to date?

SN: I think my first album Tshaya-Tshaya did well as well the song Malaika.

PM: Which are your favourite hunting grounds in terms of live shows?

SN: Though home is best, I do most of my shows abroad because I attract good crowds there. For them (people in foreign countries), it’s not just live shows, it is more like cultural tourism.

PM: To date, which is your most memorable show?

SN: My best show to date is the one I shared the stage with Alick Macheso at the Aquatic Complex in Chitungwiza, it was just electric. I gave it my all and the crowd duly responded.

PM: Who are your favourite artistes?

SN: Fungisai Zvakavapano-Mashavave and Oliver Mtukudzi. But my real favourite is Fungisai. I like her music so much to the extent that I was disappointed at one point when she lost a Zimbabwe Music Award (ZIMA) to fellow gospel musician Ivy Kombo.

PM: Some people say you are a controversial and radical?

SN: (laughs) Perceptions differ, one can judge a person before talking to him/her, but after a little chat, the person is bound to come up with a different view. If I believe in something, you cannot force me to stop or act otherwise. Not anyone can do so, unless they give me a very good reason, and I don’t think that’s being radical. My husband can choose his own church, but he cannot force me to go to his church. The deal is simple, we just go to different denominations then meet back home. I do not compromise for anyone. Also it should be noted that some people define my dance as raunchy, but, to be honest, I don’t know what is raunchy about the routines, dance is dance.

PM: Talking about your husband, will you be joining him in the United Kingdom (UK)?

SN: He was at school but is now back home for good. However, he will frequently be travelling to the UK since he still has some unfinished business.

PM: Do you currently live with him and, for the record, what’s his name?

SN: What is important is for people to know that I am wife to someone and mother of two. I need my public life to be separated from my private life. Besides, my husband does not wish to have his name published, I am the one living a public life and it should remain that way.

PM: What has been the worst moment of your life?

SN: My worst moment was in 2006 when I was alleged to have featured in an X-rated movie.

PM: Back then, you did not say much about the issue?

SN: If you are innocent, you let facts do the defence for you. I had no reason to challenge the allegations because I knew I was clean.

PM: Besides music, what else do you do?

SN: I run a small-to-medium enterprise (SME), which makes beads and I also buy and sell some stuff from Dubai.

PM: Any parting shot?

SN: I want to prove to people that you can never stop doing what you know best, even after marriage.