Award-winning musician Yvonne Chaka Chaka has been mum about what she did to celebrate her 55th birthday during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Yet while the singer, popularly known as the Princess of Africa, may have been quiet about this year's celebration, the Soweto-born star is still going strong.
She's known for hits such as Umqombothi and Makoti, but has also tried her hand at acting while pushing her philanthropic work.
A STAR IS BORN
Even though her music career started by chance while accompanying a friend to an audition, it has managed to thrive for decades. She has performed on many stages – for kings, queens, presidents and honourable officials.
READ MORE: Yvonne Chaka Chaka is not about to quit music
"My mother was not happy that I was getting into showbiz even though she signed contracts for me because I was still 19 years old," she told Move! in a previous interview.
She is now a veteran with more than 30 years in the industry.
BECOMING THE PRINCESS
Revealing how she got to be called the Princess of Africa, Yvonne said she was in Uganda where she was to perform in front of 5 000 people, and some were holding placards saying she was a princess.
READ MORE: Yvonne Chaka Chaka on her 30 years in showbiz
Her work as been internationally recognised, and she was honoured in 2017 with an international global good star and power award at the BET Awards.
THE HUMANITARIAN
Working with the United Nations as a Roll Back Malaria goodwill ambassador and as UNICEF goodwill ambassador for East and Southern Africa for close to 15 years, she told Channel24 that promoting women and children's rights have always been important to her.
READ MORE: Yvonne Chaka Chaka: 'It’s time that we shape the Africa that we want'
The mother-of-four attributes her need to make a difference in other people's lives to her humble upbringing. She told Channel24 that her domestic-worker mom instilled confidence in her and her sisters. She wanted them to be educated, independent, assertive and do whatever they felt like doing without being deterred by anyone.
Attempts to reach Yvonne was unsuccessful.
