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FROM an early age, Feli Nandi knew that she wanted to be a music superstar.
Growing up, she honed her skills by singing in the vibrant harmonies of her local church choir, dreaming of the day her voice would fill venues and captivate audiences worldwide.
'I started singing long back; my mother used to say when I was three years old. But I only remember singing when I was at Sunday school. I was serious then because my mother was there; she was my biggest fan. When there was a function home, they would call me to sing for guests,' she told The Sunday Mail Society.
However, fate had a different plan in store for her when tragedy struck and she lost her beloved mother.
This devastating loss left the singer disillusioned, causing her to abandon her passion for singing for over a decade as she navigated through the complexities of grief and life.
'All the fun I had, singing in church or at family functions came to a stop when my mother passed away in 2007 due to a road traffic accident. I was 15 years old then.
'Her death took a toll on the family and mostly me. I found it hard to believe or accept that she was gone. I mourned her for a very long time. I stopped singing totally. Rather, I totally forgot that I had a voice,' she said.
She no longer found a motive to achieve big.
Life not only became meaningless for her but also unbearable.
'My mom was a single parent as my dad died when I was still young. I had a very special relationship with her since she was both my father and mother. 'I saw her struggle to make ends meet; to make my life comfortable such that it became my mission to work hard and succeed in life so that I would one day make her proud.
'I always told myself that when I grow up, I want to buy her a nice house and a car. She was the reason I went to school and practiced singing because I wanted to become a superstar for her. So, when she died, I lost all the drive,' revealed Feli.
During this time, she...