Yvonne Chaka Chaka

Yvonne Chaka Chaka

Yvonne Chaka Chaka at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in 2012
Personal details
Born 1965
Dobsonville, Soweto, South Africa
Children 4
Profession Singer, songwriter, humanitarian, entrepreneur, teacher
Awards WEF Crystal Award, 8th Most Powerful African,[1] Top 100 Most Influential Women in the World [2]
Website www.yvonnechakachaka.co.za//

Yvonne Chaka Chaka (born Yvonne Machaka in 1965) is an internationally recognised and highly respected South African singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, humanitarian and teacher. Dubbed the "Princess of Africa" (a name she received after a 1990 tour), Chaka Chaka has been at the forefront of South African popular music for 27 years and has been popular in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Gabon, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast.[3] Songs like "I'm Burning Up", "Thank You Mister DJ", "I Cry for Freedom", "Makoti", "Motherland" and the ever-popular "Umqombothi" ("African Beer") ensured Yvonne's stardom. The song "Umqombothi" was featured in the opening scene of the 2004 movie Hotel Rwanda.

As a young performer Yvonne was the first Black child[4] to appear on South African television in 1981. Since then, she has shared the stage with persons such as Bono, Angelique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Youssou N’Dour, the classic rock band Queen and South Africans Johnny Clegg, Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela, to name a few. She has performed for HRM Queen Elizabeth II, US President Bill Clinton, South African President Thabo Mbeki and a host of other world leaders.

Yvonne is a champion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the United Nations MDG Envoy for Africa, and the Goodwill Ambassador for the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. She was chosen by Nelson Mandela as the first ambassador for his children's fund, and has also established her own charity, the Princess of Africa Foundation, using the name first given to her in Uganda. The Princess of Africa Foundation is a partner of the ACTION global health advocacy partnership. In 2012, she was the first African woman to receive the World Economic Forum's Crystal Award.

She teaches literacy part-time at the University of South Africa, sits on several boards of charitable organisations and NGOs, and serves on the board of the Johannesburg Tourism Company.

Life and career

Chaka Chaka was born in Dobsonville in Soweto.[3] Chaka Chaka had it tough growing up. Her father died when she was 11 and her mother, a domestic worker, brought up three daughters on her meagre 40 Rand a month salary.

Chaka Chaka started singing at 19 in 1984 when Phil Hollis of Dephon Records discovered her in Johannesburg.[3] Dubbed the Princess of Africa,” Yvonne experienced a meteoric rise as a music star of infectious pop melodies and dance music during the height of apartheid. Her début album was called "I’m in Love With a DJ'. Songs like "I'm Burning Up", "I Cry for Freedom", "Sangoma","Motherland" and the ever-popular, "Umqombothi" immediately ensured Chaka Chaka's status as a star on South Africa's mbaqanga music scene.

Releasing hit after hit, Chaka Chaka's subsequent award winning albums include "Burning Up", "Sangoma", "Who’s The Boss", "Motherland", " Be Proud to be African", "Thank You Mr DJ", "Back on my Feet", "Rhythm of Life", "Who's got the Power", "Bombani ( Tiko Rahini)", "Power of Afrika", "Yvonne and Friends" and "Kwenzenjani". Throughout her illustrious career Chaka Chaka has met people like Nelson Mandela (singing at his 85th birthday party), the Queen and Oprah Winfrey.

"Mama Africa", Miriam Makeba said of her "She’s my baby!", Hugh Masekela adds that Yvonne is "my mad niece". Legends Dolly Rathebe and Dorothy Masuka describe Yvonne's music as "something that all should listen to".

When asked who she admired most, Chaka Chaka said,

“ My mother because she has always been there for me. My mother raised three daughters single-handedly on a domestic worker's salary. That took great courage and strength. She is my mentor and hero. When I was born in 1965 in Soweto, it was during apartheid, and those were extremely difficult times. My dad was a great musician who could never realize his dream. He died when I was 11 years old. I inherited my talent from both parents, so music has always been in my blood. When I was little I would strum an empty tin and blow into a broom stick pretending it was a microphone. I sang in church choirs. I loved singing. I am blessed that I achieved my destiny, and been able to accomplish what my father could not. ”

Of the numerous world leaders Yvonne has met, she says her favourite is mentor and father figure, Nelson Mandela. He called her his “dear daughter.” “Madiba,” as he is affectionately known, recounted that it was Yvonne’s music that helped sustain him and others while confined as prisoners on Robben Island. He said,

“ It is what we make of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another. Yvonne, you are a testament to my belief. Your generosity has benefited untold numbers of families and orphans facing the challenges of AIDS, terminal illness, abuse, poverty and illiteracy.” ”

South Africa.

Yvonne has four sons with her husband Tiny Mhinga,[3] who is related to Mavivi Myakayaka Manzini and is the uncle to Lebohang Manzini. She has two diplomas from the University of South Africa, one in adult education, another in local government, management and administration. She also studied speech and drama at Trinity College, London, qualifying in 1997.

Entrepreneurship

Chaka Chaka has her own music label and her own production company, as well as owning a limousine company together with her husband, Dr Mandlalele (Tiny) Mhinga.

Advocacy and Humanitarianism

Yvonne is a champion for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, the United Nations MDG Envoy for Africa, and the Goodwill Ambassador for the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. Chaka Chaka is also a board member of Information Technology Companies, Human Resource Development and Sandown Motors. She became the face of First National Bank (FNB) in 2001 and in 2006, she founded her own charity called The Princess of Africa Foundation.

The Princess of Africa Foundation is a partner of the ACTION global health advocacy partnership. In 2012, she was the first African woman to receive the World Economic Forum's Crystal Award. Recently, the launch of her documentary film, A Motherland Tour — A Journey of African Women, filmed over five years of travels around Africa, took her on a world tour to promote the grassroots successes of those engaged in the battle against HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria, supported by the Global Fund.

Yvonne also serves as Ambassador for Nelson Mandela’s 46664 Campaign which raises global awareness of HIV/AIDS. She has also been ambassador to the University of South Africa (UNISA), City of Johannesburg Tourism, and South Africa’s Mpumalanga Province Tourism. Yvonne has taught literacy in South Africa’s townships, promoted the rights of women and works to protect children everywhere, and she is a Trustee of Tomorrow Trust, which educates orphans and vulnerable children.

She served as an Honorary Colonel in the South African Air Force.[5]

In 2015 she signed an open letter which the ONE Campaign had been collecting signatures for; the letter was addressed to Angela Merkel and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, urging them to focus on women as they serve as the head of the G7 in Germany and the AU in South Africa respectively, which will start to set the priorities in development funding before a main UN summit in September 2015 that will establish new development goals for the generation.[6]

Discography

Albums
Compilations
Contributing Artist

References

  1. ↑ Mfonobong Nsehe. "Chinua Achebe, 80, Nigerian, Novelist - In Photos: The 40 Most Powerful Celebrities In Africa". Forbes.
  2. ↑ Women Deliver 2010. "Women Deliver » Knowledge Center » Women Deliver Publications » Women Deliver 100 (2011) » Women Deliver 100: 1 - 25".
  3. 1 2 3 4 Mojapelo, Max (2008). "Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music". African Minds. p. 98. ISBN 1920299289. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  4. ↑ "About Yvonne Chaka Chaka".
  5. ↑ "Picture Caption" (PDF). SA Soldier. 18 (3): 30. March 2011. ISSN 1609-5014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  6. ↑ Tracy McVeigh. "Poverty is sexist: leading women sign up for global equality | Life and style". The Guardian. Retrieved 2015-05-08.
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