Simphiwe Dana Biography: Net Worth, Age, Education, Music Career
Miriam Makeba might have left large shoes to fill, but some a certain South African female musician is doing a great job at filling it. Simphiwe Dana is a South African musician from the Xhosa tribe. She is a singer and a songwriter who makes a beautiful Melody, fusing Jazz, Afro-soul, Rap and Traditional music. The resultant is a wonderful sound that speaks to the most unreachable soul. She is also an activist, who uses her music to fight for a Reformation.
Simphiwe Dana Biography: Net Worth, Age, Education, Music Career
Birth, family, early life and education
Simphiwe Dana was born on the 23rd day of January 1980. She is currently 41 years old. Her place of birth was at Gcuwa (Butterworth), Transkei, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. She was however raised in Lusikisiki particularly in the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality.
Like most musicians, Simphiwe Dana grew up in the church. Her father was a local preacher and this exposed her to the choir at a very early age. Simphiwe Dana is an educated woman. She schooled in Vela Private School in Mthatha. She matriculated in the year 1997. She also went on to pursue her tertiary education, majoring in graphic design. She successfully studied for her National Diploma in IT at the prestigious Wits Technikon, Johannesburg.
Family
Simphiwe Dana was engaged to be married to Leshoto Itswneng. They, however, separated on grounds of physical abuse.
Simphiwe Dana has two children, a girl Zandisile and a boy called Phalo.
Music career
Simphiwe Dana kicked off her music career in 2002 where she began to sing in small gatherings and clubs and people began to notice her. She was only 22 years at that time. In 2004, when she turned 24, she made South Africa come to a standstill with the release of her debut album Zandisile. The album was a success and won quite a number of awards, some of which are South African Music Award (SAMA) in the year 2005, an AVO Session Basel Award and others. After the album was released worldwide, it topped the Billboard charts. It was this that facilitated her winning the AVO Session Basel Award.
Her third music album, Kulture Noir, was released in the summer of 2010. After a while, she released her live album, An Evening with Sipmhiwe Dana Live in Concert. The album featured her singing some of her best hit songs and accompanied by a 27-piece orchestra.
Simphiwe Dana showed herself as a force to be reckoned with. She maintained a strong presence, especially on the radio. She had quite consistent radio play and live appearances at key national events and Festivals. Some of the events she appeared in includes Arts Alive, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz.
Besides making music albums and singles, Simphiwe Dana also sings the theme song of the Yizo Yizo television show.
Simphiwe Dana is also active in the World Music scene in Europe.
Simphiwe Dana was especially fond of some of her songs. They include;
“Ndiredi”
“Troubled Soldier”
“Chula Ukunyathela”
“Bantu Biko Street”
“Zundiqondisise”
“Uzobuya Nini”
“Sonini Nanini”
“Naphakade”.
Music style
Simphiwe Dana was said to have taken after the likes of Miriam Makeba and Dorothy Masuka in their rhythm and soulfulness when singing.
Simphiwe Dana’s songs are masterpieces. They are works of musical art that blends traditional African music with contemporary soul. It also shows hints of gospel and blues. Simphiwe Dana’s songs portray her depth. It shows that these were inspired and not just strung together for noise making. Her knowledge and skills at contemporary pop too is lauded. Simphiwe Dana is one of the few music Artistes that have a large fanbase in both the younger and the older generation. The older generation was won over by the depth of the music and the lyrics while the younger generation, being the more upbeat ones, are particularly drawn to pop music.
When Simphiwe Dana was asked about her musical inspiration, she said the music she makes draws strongly and has roots in her upbringing in the Transkei. She also cited the powerful singing of her mother as an inspiration for her and her siblings. This became a key motivation for her to pursue a career in music. Simphiwe Dana is a creative advocate of Afrofuturism and Afrofeminism.
Awards and accolades
Dana Simphiwe won the “Best Newcomer “award and Best Jazz Vocal album at the 11th South African Music Awards. This was for her first album Zandisile and happened in the year 2005.
In the year 2007, she won “Best Female Artist”, with the song “The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street”. This was at the 13th South African Music Awards.
Controversies
Simphiwe Dana has always been an activist and tends to be hot-headed when speaking on things she’s passionate about. She lived in Capetown for about 10 years before she moved to Johannesburg. She cited racism as one of the reasons she left Capetown, as she was getting uncomfortable.
Last year, Helen Zille, premier of the Western Cape and the leader of the Democratic Alliance, weighed in on a debate on Twitter. The brawl and argument started after a South African Twitter user Lindiwe Suttle, wrote: “No matter how famous/rich you are, you’re still a 2nd class citizen if you’re black in Cape Town. Helen Zille dropped a statement in the lines of “complete nonsense” and “a baseless assertion”. Simphiwe Dana asked her if she was disputing the fact that Capetown was racist. The fight escalated and led to the two of them tweeting furiously. They were both invited to a radio station for a programme, but the spats did not die down.
Simphiwe Dana was arrested by the police on grounds of assaulting her fiance Leshoto Itswneng. She, however, maintained that he spat on her face and she retaliated. This was days after he battered her.
Conclusion
Simphiwe Dana is a phenomenal woman without doubts. She has paid the price and has done very well as regards the South African Music industry. And that’s all there is to Simphiwe Dana Biography. If you’ve got anything on Simphiwe Dana Biography, so share with us in the comment section.
