Dana was born 1980, in Gcuwa, Transkei, Eastern Cape, South Africa. She is a Xhosa pop singer in South Africa. She has a unique way of
combining jazz, pop, and traditional music. Simphiwe Dana is a South African singer-songwriter in the fields of
jazz, Afro-soul, rap and traditional music. She rose to fame after the
release of her first album, Zandisile, in 2004.
Early Life and family
Dana was Born and Raised in the Eastern Cape, her
name means ‘gift’ and many of her fans would agree that she is just
that, a gift to the SA music scene. In a short period of time this Soul
Sistah has become one of South Africa’s favourite daughters. Her music
has a fresh sound and her unique voice complements it perfectly. Her
debut album Zandisile took a lot of music lovers by surprise. It is
modern South African music with a timeless revolutionary message.
schooled at the Vela Private School in Mthatha, from which she
matriculated in 1997. Her tertiary education pursued her interests in
graphic design, and she successfully studied for her National Diploma in
IT at the Wits Technikon, Johannesburg. Dana’s music draws strongly on
her upbringing in the Transkei, and she sites the powerful singing of
her mother as an inspiration for her and her siblings, and ultimately as
a key motivator in her resolve to pursue her musical career.
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| Simphiwe Dana And Kids |
Careeer
In 2005, Simphiwe Dana won the “Best
Newcomer” award at the 11th South African Music Awards with her first
album “Zandisile”. Two years later, she was named the “Best Female
Artist”, with the song “The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street”, at
the 13th South African Music Awards.
Simphiwe Dana is also active in the world music scene in Europe.
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She
has maintained a strong presence, with consistent radio play and live
appearances at key national events and Festivals such as Arts Alive, the
Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the Standard Bank Joy of
Jazz. In September 2005, travelling to perform in Vereeniging, she was
involved in a serious road accident. She was hospitalised for a week and
needed reconstructive surgery, but fortunately gave birth to a healthy
baby boy. In the ensuing period, she took time out to prioritise her
maternal role and also for her own healing.
With two
commercially-successful and critically acclaimed albums to her credit,
she maintains a busy live performance roster, which increasingly
includes international dates.
