“Rap saved my life” – From Atlantis to the Main Stage

“Rap changed my life,” says Nashiefa Jappie, a 22-year-old woman from Atlantis in the Western Cape. As a young girl, she sang, modeled and even played soccer, but it was in grade 6 that she started writing her own lyrics and discovered what she describes as her calling.

According to Nashiefa, growing up in Atlantis is not easy. She shares her testimony, which is similar to that of many growing up in residential areas plagued by gang violence across the Western Cape. “I grew up surrounded by violence and gangsterism. I saw young people dying on the streets. It makes you live in fear.” Through lived experiences, Nashiefa found inspiration. In her lyrics, she talks about pain, loss, dreams and yet she always conveys a message of hope.

Nashiefa mentions one of her songs, “Vasgevang in die Strate,” in which she describes how she felt like a target. “But music saved me from that place,” she says. Another favorite song, “Pyn is tydlik,” testifies to her belief that difficult times are just phases testing the strength and character of a person.

In 2023, she joined Smile Production, a platform that offers opportunities to young artists. There, Nashiefa’s career gained momentum, from the Jazzathon in the Waterfront, Cape Town, to performances at the Suidoosterfees, where she won third place overall and first place in the rap category. “Smile Production is my family. They gave me the chance to show who I am”, she said.

With many young artists looking toward legendary role models in the music industry for inspiration, Nashiefa sees her situation in a different light. “I’ve always been my own role model”.

She admits that rapper Early B made her realize that patience and self-belief are the keys to success. 

Her message to young people is simple: “Don’t let your circumstances steal your dreams. If you believe in yourself, you can achieve anything.” This belief drives her big dream, to inspire young people locally and internationally, especially those who, like her, come from challenging communities.

In the music industry, many artists rely on writers to create their songs. However, Nashiefa views songwriting as an essential part of her craft and is deeply passionate about participating in the entire production process. "I’ve never stopped writing. This is how I find myself," she explains. She likens her life to a puzzle that she is assembling piece by piece. "With God by my side, I believe I will complete it, and one day I will make a difference."

Nashiefa’s journey is more than music. It is a testimony that dark places can be lightened, and that one young woman’s lyrics can touch a community flustered with challenges and hardship.