Rounda round-up

January 19, 2024

Last year, Nando’s sponsored the new Emerging Artist of the Year category of the Basadi in Music Awards, helping five emerging female musicians to take the next step in their music careers. We then asked our guests and our Nandocas (our employees) to help us raise funds through ourGive a little. Do a lotWomen’s Month campaign, which ran throughout August, to further fire up their careers in partnership with our non-profit music partner, Bridges For Music.

We promised that the restaurants that raised the most funds would get to experience the music of ourBasadi finalistsfor themselves. Of course, our talented finalists and Mzwa Ngubeni, who looks after Heatwave, our internal radio station, have delivered! Here’s a round-up of the five epic outdoor broadcasts (OBs) that the winning restaurants around the country have enjoyed.

Link to this headingNoluthando at Nando’s Bayview in Durban

Bheki Nkosi, our Heatwave Radio Station Coordinator, interviewed Nandocas and Noluthando at the Nando’s Bayview OB.

Sthembile Khanyile, cashier, said,I think we won the competition because our customers are generous and when we ask for R1.00, they always give more. We were over the moon with the performance by Noluthando. Our guests kept taking videos. It was hot and lit. What I also liked the most is seeing Mzwa for the first time since I joined the Nando’s family.

Mmapho Mofitiso, also a cashier, said,We won because we believed in the goal, then we made sure that we worked hard, so that we could achieve the goal. The live performance was perfect – I enjoyed each and every moment. What I liked the most about today was the performance by Noluthando Ngema, our very own lady from KZN. We will keep collecting Rounda funds from our customers because the money helps other people.

Noluthando Ngema (the Nando’s Basadi Emerging Artist of the Year), said winning the award has given her access to and opened doors that would have taken years organically.

It has given me the opportunity to create in a way that best suits me and my vision,” she enthused.It has inspired me to create and stay motivated to create knowing that I have such an amazing brand backing me up in my journey as an emerging artist. Performing today was a special time celebrating with the Nandocas in Bayview for their amazing work on the Rounda Campaign. I felt their warmth and genuine hospitality during my performance, which made me start singing and dancing with them. That was sweet. I think it is an absolutely phenomenal idea that Nando’s supports creatives in whichever sphere they are in. I appreciate the way that I see local art pieces and beadwork in their restaurant stores, further promoting the arts in a practical way. It’s not easy being a creative and it often comes down to who you know in the industry you are in, so having a brand such as Nando’s supporting artists, designers, performers and creatives is a huge boost, not only in visibility but also in the equipping of creatives in the long run.

She described the vibe as warm and homey.I was received with many hugs and with beautiful hospitality. I think the Nandocas were happy to witness someone on a journey of being an upcoming artist. They got to see a physical representation of how their efforts in the Rounda Campaign have tangibly impacted someone’s life, she said.Before I left, one of the Nandocas said that they wanted to see me on Channel-O next year, which I found very endearing because it showed that they wanted me to succeed in my career as an artist and that they were rooting for me.

oluthando’s favourite Nando’s meal is a chicken pita (mild) with chips.It just reminds me of Friday nights at home because my mom (who is probably the biggest supporter of Nando’s) would come back almost every Friday night with Nando’s and it was usually a full chicken. So, on extra-special occasions, we were allowed to order what we wanted and I would get the delicious pita meal.

Link to this headingBlack Villain at Nando’s Diepkloof Square in Soweto

Bheki once again went along to the OB to report back on what the Nandocas and performing artist – Black Villain – thought.

Image of Black Villain at Nando's diepkloof

Dorcus Mashaba, the Patrao (manager) at Nando’s Diepkloof Square, said,I have always encouraged my Nandocas by letting them know the importance of giving back to the community. My feelings were somewhere else when I heard the good news. It was exciting and flattering as it was the first win after we had opened this new restaurant. This really gave us confidence that we can do more.

She said she continues to encourage her Nandocas to promote Rounda to help change people’s lives, and now to maintain the standard that they have set for Nando’s Diepkloof Square.

Today’s performance was amazing and great because my Nandocas were excited and energetic like never before. I think Nando’s is doing very well by supporting the artists as some of them don’t have funds but they are good artists. My advice to the other restaurants is they mustn’t take Rounda as a competition; they must do it out of love and this will help them to win next time. Always complete your task to impress yourself. Then, once you are impressed, the next person will be impressed by you,” she said. “Lastly, never be afraid to fail because we grow by our failures. Just get up and try again.

Jabulile Mthethwa, cashier, said,I think we won the competition because our customers appreciate it a lot and they believe that one day they will see Nando’s help their own blood. The live performance today was overwhelming and amazing because we were the first restaurant to have an OB for the Rounda competition and our restaurant is brand new. What I really liked about today was to see the Heatwave team in our restaurant live because we only know their voices.

Ncebakazi Dayimani, also a cashier at the restaurant, said,The live performance was amazing and it was my first time to see Mzwa and Bheki live. We normally hear them on Heatwave Radio, but today we were firing it up together with them. We are so grateful.

Black Villain, one of the five Nando’s Basadi Emerging Artist of the Year finalists, said,The Basadi Emerging Artist initiative has helped me a lot, especially on the radio side as it has opened so many doors for me. I recently got a residency on 5FM. Next week I will be playing in a festival in KZN for two days. It’s been amazing and a great journey. Performing in this restaurant today was very nice. Nandocas and customers were jamming, and the investment of Nando’s supporting creative artists is amazing because a lot of people don’t really put investment into art. So thanks to Nando’s for taking charge and discovering new artists. The vibe was great and amaNandoca were amazing. Also, sharing the desk with BlaqQueen was really great. Everyone was dancing and happy. My favourite Nando’s meal would be Cabo Sosatie and it must be HOT like me.

BlaqQueen is a phenomenal DJ who also happens to be a Nandoca. We got to hear of her music through an internal talent search at Nando’s. It was great to be able to include her in the Rounda event!

Nanod's Diepkloof employees posing for a pic

Link to this headingQaqamba at Nando’s Queenstown, East London

Aphiwe Maya, our Heatwave Radio Correspondent, attended the Nando’s Queenstown OB in East London.

I was fortunate enough to sit alongside Mzwa as a co-host of the OB, he said.Being a restaurant that is no stranger to emerging victorious when it came to incentives, Nando’s Queenstown and its Nandocas showed us exactly why they are known for ‘the most spirit’ in the region. The energy they expressed that Friday morning brought a warmth that made me feel welcome.

As soon as the doors opened for guests to enter, it was evident why this team was operating so well. Their level of teamwork and formation is what leads to this restaurant’s success. One would think the guests on the day knew they were going to be treated to a special performance from one of the Basadi finalists, as they quickly fully packed the dine-in area, moments before the talented Qaqamba Ntshinka took to the stage. She was received with a standing ovation by the crowd at the end of her amazing performance.

And just as we thought we had come to the end of a day as onlookers, the Queenstown Team surprised us with a ‘Magic Moment’ in the form of a guest who came to celebrate her baby daughter’s birthday at Nando’s. It was absolutely a phenomenal job from the Nandocas at Nando’s Queenstown. We trust them to continue to keep the fire burning.

Qaqamba Ntshinka with people posing for a pic

Link to this headingGemma at Nando’s Nelspruit in Mbombela

It all started on an overcast morning in Nelspruit, she said.However, the weather quickly cleared up and the sun was out and shining brightly. Thankfully so, because Nando’s Nelspruit is the kind of restaurant that you walk into and feel the warmth from the Nandocas, which made it the perfect place to kick off our Rounda activation with the Heatwave team and Gemma Fassie, one of the five Basadi Emerging Artist finalists.

When speaking to the Patrao, Robert, we heard he was new to the restaurant. However, he said that he would like to thank the assistant Patrao, Nomathemba, for making sure that the Nandocas pushed Rounda and got guests to contribute towards the career and success of the Basadi nominees. He also thanked the Heatwave team for starting off their December in style as they added a festive and merry feel in their restaurant.

Nomathemba said that she encouraged her Nandocas to ask for the Rounda contributions by reminding them that it was going to a good cause. She said that they know that Nando’s is a brand that’s about changing lives and, by receiving those contributions, they made sure that someone’s life would be changed forever.

Gemma Fassie told us that she really wasn’t going to send through her entry for the Basadi in Music Awards but was convinced by her friends and family to enter and take the chance because you never know what could happen. She also said that she’s truly grateful to Nando’s for trying to not only showcase new musicians, but also to uplift them in their journey in music. She had the guests eating out of her hands with her performance and got them dancing with her latest single called,mina nawe, which is out now on all digital music platforms.

Just like her hot sizzling performance she said that her favourite Nando’s meal right now is the Cabo Sosatie and Chips, while her favourite flavour depends on what she’s feeling like on the day because she enjoys all the Nando’s flavours.

There’s still one Rounda activation to come (at Nando’s N1 Petroport in Pretoria) and – after hearing about the other events – the Nandocas are fired up to welcome Black Villain, Mzwa and team to the restaurant to celebrate their star performance soon.