Tsakani – Zandile Zulu (19) is a creative, professionally known as Medusa Blanco. Zulu is carving out a space for herself in the creative industry through music, content creation, visual art and modelling.
For her, art is more than entertainment. It is a means of expression, healing and connecting with people who may struggle to put their own experiences into words.
“Medusa Blanco is me in my most honest form. I am a creative, a storyteller and a voice for my generation,” she said.
The young artist said growing up in Tsakani helped shape her creativity and gave her a deeper understanding of the power of storytelling.
“Art was how I survived and how I expressed what I could not say out loud. I realised I wanted to do this seriously when I saw how my music and content could make people feel seen,” she said.
A defining moment came when someone told her that her music had put their feelings into words.
“That is when I knew,” she said.
Blanco has not received formal training in the arts. Instead, she has developed her skills through constant practice, recording music on her phone, writing, experimenting and learning from her surroundings.
“The streets and my community taught me. My skill comes from practice and from being intentional,” she said.
Her artistic name, Medusa Blanco, carries deep personal meaning.
“I identify with Medusa’s story of being powerful, misunderstood and turning pain into strength.
“Medusa means everything to me because she was powerful and went through what I have been through at a fragile age, yet she was misunderstood.
“She turned pain into power. I turn my pain into power and wear my crown anyway,” she said.
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Zulu’s music is equally personal; she’s a versatile artist whose sound blends Afro, R&B and neo-soul with soulful storytelling and an edge.
She said many of her songs draw on her experiences as a young woman and the challenges she faced growing up.
“As a woman, I have had my heart broken by people who should’ve protected me. I have had to grow and find myself. If my music can help one girl choose herself or heal, then I have done my job,” she said.
Zulu said Tsakani remains at the heart of her creative identity, influencing the stories, language and experiences reflected in her work.
“Tsakani made me. The stories, the struggle, the joy and the language, it is all in my music,” she said.
Her ambitions extend beyond establishing herself as an artist. She hopes to use her platform to inspire and create opportunities for other young women from townships.
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“I create for the girls in the township who dream big with nothing,” she said.
However, Zulu said access to resources remains one of the biggest challenges facing emerging creatives, particularly those from townships.
According to Zulu, young artists need greater access to funding, recording studios, mentorship, industry connections and platforms that genuinely support township talent.
“We have the talent. We need the doors opened and the right support,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Zulu remains determined to stay authentic in an industry where creatives are often pressured to follow trends.
“As a content creator, I only post what I actually live. Trends are cool, but I filter them through me. If it does not feel like Medusa Blanco, I will not do it. Authenticity is my brand,” she said.
“My legacy is that I showed up as myself and made space for others to do the same,” she said.
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