Everything You Wanted to Know About Full Moon Singer-Songwriter Artist Moonchild Sanelly
South African singer-songwriter and dancer Sanelisiwe Twisha, better known by the name Moonchild Sanelly, truly stands all on her own in the music scene.
From a young age, she's always had a desire and need to express herself, from teaching herself piano and poetry writing to singing in church. In adulthood, she faced many hardships, including facing homelessness with newborn twins and almost losing a battle to malaria. But, rather than allowing those struggles to get her down, she used them to funnel her creativity, channeling them into something tangible in the form of her music, brought to live through her signature "ghetto future funk" sound.
Artistically, she's known for tracks that are as deeply moving and emotional as they are infectiously catchy. They convey a message of women's liberation and the idea that through persistence, anything is possible, reflecting her own authentic story. She kicked off 2025 with the release of her third album, Full Moon, her rawest and most personal record to date, named such because its the most complete encapsulation of the artist yet. Below, discover everything Moonchild shared with us as our Woman Crush Wednesday.
(Photo credit: Chantelle KP)
Name: Sanelisiwe Twisha
Hometown: Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Birthday: November 20
Fun Facts:
1. If Moonchild could pick anyone from history to be her mentor, she'd gravitate toward one mythical figure.
"Medusa—so I can know how to punish boys that misbehave."
-Moonchild Sanelly
2. She relates to Pepper Anne (from the animated series of the same name) more than any other Disney character.
3. One life lesson she wishes she's learned early on is that it's fine to move on.
"People serve a purpose and it's okay to not rekindle certain relationships."
-Moonchild Sanelly
4. If she weren't a musical artist, she'd love to be an avant-garde fashion designer.
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5. Her all-time favorite food is a traditional South African dish.
"Phutu and amasi—porridge and sour milk."
-Moonchild Sanelly
6. She'd love to get better at being patient.
7. She collects both perfumes and sneakers.
8. Fifi, the pug her family had when she was growing up, still holds a special place in her heart.
"My kids do not like animals so we currently do not have pets."
-Moonchild Sanelly
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9. Her favorite style trend at the moment is a unique torn look.
"Tearing s*** up. I am always tearing material for my looks."
-Moonchild Sanelly
10. If she could choose to live in any decade, there are a couple of eras she'd like to visit.
"I was born in the best decade, when Black music became more and more popular, and R&B jams became a household staple. But if there's an era I would've loved to experience, it would be the era of the corsets. I am a corset girl and a snatched waist is a must for me!"
-Moonchild Sanelly
11. Being genuine is the most important thing to Moonchild.
"I'm always myself—day in and out, authentically myself. When I love, I love hard, and I treat everyone I meet with love and kindness."
-Moonchild Sanelly
For more on our WCWs, click HERE to learn everything you wanted to know about cheerleader and content creator Hannah Kenerly.