Nadia Nakai names Winnie Mandela, Beyoncé and her gran as inspirations
In a recent interview, the rapper spoke about her grandmother, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Beyoncé as the people who shaped her life and music.
Nadia Nakai has named three people who have shaped her as an artist: her grandmother, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Beyoncé. She spoke about them in an interview with The Cool on NINE80 NETWORK, according to SA Hip Hop Mag.
The strength of a grandmother
The rapper began with her family. She described her grandmother as the matriarch of the household and said the older woman’s example of strength and resilience runs through the women in the family.
“I feel like she’s the matriarch,” Nadia said. She added that the women in her family are all very strong and headstrong, a trait she traces directly back to her gran.
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and the Bragga era
The second name on her list is Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who Nadia sees as a lasting source of courage and creative inspiration. The influence goes beyond admiration, she explained, and has fed directly into her work.
She said her Bragga project took its cue from the struggle icon. “Bragga actually was inspired by Winnie Mandela,” she said, adding that this extended to the cover and to how she structured the project. Nadia also noted that people have often told her she looks like a young Mama Winnie, and described the late figure as having “a lingering spirit” for her.
Beyoncé as the benchmark for performance
Looking abroad, Nadia pointed to Beyoncé as the standard for performance and discipline. She singled out the singer’s vocal delivery, songwriting and stage presence as qualities she admires.
Nadia said she studies Beyoncé’s work ethic closely, often returning to the Homecoming Coachella special on Netflix. By her own account, she watches it repeatedly and stands in front of the television pretending it is her on stage.
Why it matters for fans
The interview gives listeners a clearer sense of where Nadia’s music and visuals come from. For anyone who followed the Bragga era, her comments offer a direct link between that project’s look and a figure from South African history. Her references to her gran and to Beyoncé show the personal and international influences she draws on.
The three inspirations, as she presented them, are:
- Her grandmother, for family strength and resilience
- Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, for courage and the concept behind Bragga
- Beyoncé, for craft, discipline and stage performance
This story is based on reporting by SA Hip Hop Mag.
