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Nadia Nakai: Better, bolder and badder than ever

Nadia Nakai has made room for female rappers in South Africa while staying true to who she is – and dipping into other industries. Bragga has earned her bragging rights. 

It’s right at the end of our interview when Nadia Nakai mentions that she loves animals. As a fellow dog mom, this just confirms what I learnt during our hour-long chat: Nadia Nakai is a person who thinks deeply about life.  

“I was at a gig, and I saw a group of grasshoppers – there were so many! – and I had to walk around them. I just couldn’t walk through them,” she tells me. She knows that everyone has their place in this ecosystem of life, and that all living beings are deserving of respect.  

Becoming Bragga

UB40, Sade, Phil Collins… These are just some of the artists who have inspired Nadia’s musical journey. Perhaps not quite what you would expect from a woman who has made massive strides in the local rap scene. “This is the type of music my mom would listen to when I was growing up. I like old-school music and I’m inspired by it,” she says.  

When I ask about where her love for rap comes in, she quickly says: “Uhm, because I can’t sing!” – and after a chuckle, she explains that she loves music, so she knew the next best way to express herself was through poetry. She started writing poems in high school and gradually started recording those poems onto music on her mom’s laptop, and then it became rap. 

Nadia’s family were supportive of her dreams to become a musician… but that acceptance came with one term: She had to obtain a degree first. Nadia was raised by a single mom, and says she was a very strong woman. “All I remember is her studying a lot – that’s one of my core memories: me playing around the desk while she was studying to better life for all of us,” she says. Working hard was a part of Nadia’s life from an early age. She worked towards a double major in marketing and communications. She went on to work at an advertising agency as an account executive for about three years, then left to become a TV presenter and, later, a musician.  

More than just a girl 

Rap comes across as aggressive, but it’s packed with expression and relies on storytelling and poetry, explains Nadia, which is what she loves about it. It’s not only for the rough and rowdy. “Being in a male-dominated industry is not necessarily something I’ve found to be difficult. Those I’ve worked with have been interested in a female perspective,” says Nadia.  

“I’ve been in the industry for quite some time now but when I started, there weren’t a lot of female rappers who were making music like me, who were able to really commercialise it. The look and feel of this and the spaces I perform in… I think this has contributed to other female artists being able to come into the game and really be taken seriously,” she says.  

Her way of presenting herself in the industry was hyperconfident, with her being in touch with her sexuality and her femininity – and not shying away from that – which wasn’t something the female artists were doing at the time, Nadia says. “We only really saw this done by international acts and we were consuming their content,” she says. “Seeing it from one of our own was very impactful, I think.” 

“I am a girl’s girl,” says Nadia. “Black women have gone through a lot. When it comes to relationships and careers, we’re always on the backburner so we have to support and uplift each other… because men won’t do it, mostly due to this suppressive cultural idea that women should be staying at home and not doing anything,” she says. “Women need to come together and build each other and uplift each other to become the powerhouses we’ve looked up to our whole lives,” she says.  

Rapping her praises  

When asked about which awards she’s most proud of? “All of them – and, at the same time, none of them,” she says. “I don’t believe awards are important. Awards, for me, are having fans listen to my music and interacting with my content.”  

One thing that really does matter to Nadia is feeling proud of the projects she puts out. And she’s especially happy about her latest album, Braggacy, which came out earlier this year. “Compared to my first album, where I was guided a lot by my male counterparts, this one is more musically elevated, and I’ve explored more different elements of myself,” she muses. “I’ve learnt to trust my own voice and my own ear, and I’ve created a masterpiece.”  

Who does she really hope to reach through her music? Those with real-life challenges, she says. “I want to inspire people to know that there is a silver lining and a better side to their trials and tribulations. We just have to continue persevering and not give up on our own lives,” she says.  

For the fans 

Nadia needs her fans, she says. “When people see me, they’ll come up to me and they’ll say, ‘I really love this song’ or ‘I love what you did with this’. That’s what I love the most,” Nadia says.  

And Nadia shows her appreciation for her fans – she’s even dedicated Braggacy to her fans. While making this sort-of tribute album, she also had the fans of her late partner, rapper AKA (whose real name was Kiernan Forbes), in mind.  

While many thought the album name was a play on “Bragga” and “Legacy”, it’s actually an ode to the Megacy, which is AKA’s loyal fan base (and came to be because of his other nickname SuperMega), Nadia explained on hhm: A Helen Herimbi-Moremi Podcast. “The Megacy supported me so much, and I think my fans and his fans kind of merged and created the Braggacy,” she said.  

Being at the top 

We can collectively agree that Nadia Nakai and her Bragga persona have earned the right to be recognised as one of South Africa’s most successful female rappers. But she isn’t always so sure, she says, as she struggles with imposter syndrome. 

“I think it’s important to surround yourself with people who don’t allow you to succumb to imposter syndrome and who inspire you and push you.” She says it helps her when people reassure her when she has doubts.  

When it comes to giving others advice, she chooses not to for the most part. “I don’t actually want to advise others… everyone is on their own journey. I don’t know better. You have to go through it and figure it out for yourself,” she says. “I guess that’s the imposter syndrome in me that comes into play… I don’t feel like I am worthy of giving advice.” Essentially, the advice I’ve personally taken from Nadia is: just live your life – through the highs and lows – and respect the lives of others.  


Even more on her plate 

Another creative avenue that Nadia is exploring is reality TV. The second season of her reality show Nadia Beyond Bragga is in the works, and she’s also starred in Netflix’s Young, Famous & African. “Reality TV is similar to what I already do, so it’s not that difficult for me. I feel at home; it’s not like I am pretending to be a certain character – I am representing myself, my thoughts, my feelings.” While she’s a force in her own right, Nadia’s personality really pops when she’s vibing off of others and their energy, as can be seen in her show and in her podcasting journey. She’s playful and captivating when she’s deep in conversation about life and what it means for those around her.  

She’s also always loved playing around with make-up and so her decision to start her own make-up brand, Naked Without, came as naturally as her other talents. The range, available online, was self-funded by Nadia as she really believes in its quality. “These are products that allow you to look like you know what you’re doing,” she says, adding that the range is affordable but consists of only high-quality products. She says she doesn’t expect people to buy the brand simply because it’s hers – she wants the consistently good quality to speak for itself.  

She had a popular collab with Sportscene‘s Redbat brand, which was a sweet introduction into the fashion industry for Nadia. And there’s more to come – she’s working on a clothing collab with a big brand that’s yet to be named… and we can expect a mix of premium streetwear and athleisure. 

Taking charge of the work she puts out seems to be an important part of Nadia’s process, and it’s one of the reasons she wants to keep working for herself and on her own terms. And if her history, at just 35 years old, is anything to go by, Bragga is building quite an impressive legacy.  

Nadia’s take on fashion  

Just looking at her, you’ll see that Nadia oozes creativity. “Male artists will wear the same clothes all day then perform in the same outfit,” she jokes, going on to explain how seriously she takes every detail of her performances, from the fabric to the sequins and how they sparkle when she moves.  

A lot of her inspiration comes from Pinterest, and she loves a good blend between streetwear and high-end fashion. Rather than eyeing certain designers, Nadia prefers to wear custom-made outfits to her shows.  

When it comes to how I dress, I don’t take into consideration what people say. What matters is that I’m comfortable.” 

Follow Her

Instagram: @nadianakai

By: Shani Tsai
Photography by: Supplied  

Also read: Craig Lucas: Honest, raw and unapologetic 

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