Joburg – In all aspects of society, there are phenomenal women who are making a difference in the lives of those around them while also striving to new heights. This Women’s Month, The Saturday Star will be profiling some of the nation’s leading ladies.
Yvonne Chaka Chaka is an internationally recognised South African singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, humanitarian and teacher. The 57-year-old who was born in Soweto, Joburg is affectionately known as “Princess of Africa”, a name she received after a 1990 tour.
As a young performer, Chaka Chaka was the first black child to appear on South African television in 1981. Since then, she has shared the stage with persons such as Bono, Angélique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Youssou N’Dour, the crossover group Appassionante, the classic rock band Queen and South Africans Johnny Clegg, Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela.
She also performed for Queen Elizabeth II, US President Bill Clinton and other world leaders.
She is also a champion for the Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and malaria, the UN MDG Envoy for Africa, and the Goodwill Ambassador for the Roll Back Malaria Partnership.
Chaka Chaka 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.
Chaka Chaka also teaches literacy part-time at Unisa, sits on several boards of charitable organisations and NGOs and serves on the board of the Johannesburg Tourism Company.