Rebecca Malope - Biography, Real Name, Age and Career
Batsogile Lovederia "Rebecca" Malope, widely known as "The Queen of Gospel," stands as an illustrious South African gospel singer with an impressive career spanning over three decades. Her exceptional talent and devotion to gospel music have earned her a remarkable global presence, evidenced by the sale of over 10 million albums worldwide. As one of the preeminent gospel artists of her time, Rebecca Malope's work has achieved multi-platinum status.
In addition to her extraordinary music career, Rebecca Malope ventured into the realm of television. Between 2004 and 2019, she hosted her own syndicated television show, "It's Gospel Time," where her passion for gospel music shone through, captivating audiences across the nation. Her influence extended beyond singing, as in 2013, she assumed the role of a judge in the esteemed "Clash of Choirs South Africa," demonstrating her versatility and expertise in the music industry.
Rebecca Malope's illustrious career was not only marked by her musical accomplishments but also by the recognition and accolades she received for her significant contributions to South African culture. In 2021, her dedication to the world of music earned her the esteemed Order of Ikhamanga (OIS) from President Cyril Ramaphosa, a distinguished honor recognizing her indelible impact on South African music. Rebecca Malope's legacy as "The Queen of Gospel" continues to shine brightly, leaving an enduring mark on the world of music and the hearts of her countless fans.
Early Life
Rebecca Malope was born on June 30, 1968, to John Malope and Pauline Twala. She hails from Lekazi, situated within the province of Mpumalanga, South Africa. She was born prematuredly due to the distressing circumstances of her mother being subjected to abuse by her father during pregnancy. Consequently, her childhood was marked by fragility, malnourishment, and a delayed onset of walking, far behind her peers in achieving this milestone. The harsh realities of poverty forced her to discontinue her formal education after just the first grade, as her family struggled to make ends meet.
Tragically, her mother, bearing the brunt of consistent abuse from her father, fled the family home, leaving Rebecca and her siblings to navigate a challenging existence. To contribute to the family's survival, Rebecca began working on a tobacco farm at the tender age of 11, a responsibility that weighed heavily on her young shoulders.
Her journey into music is particularly remarkable, as in her early years, she had a debilitating illness which confined her to a wheelchair. Medical professionals doubted her ability to regain the use of her legs.
Despite these early challenges, young Rebecca and her sisters found solace and a shared passion in singing hymns within the confines of their local church. This early exposure to gospel music instilled in her a deep love for the genre.
At 13, she, along with her sister Cynthia, embarked on a daring journey to Ermelo, driven by Cynthia's aspiration to join the music group known as "Dan Nkosi and The Villagers." However, upon their arrival, they were disheartened to discover that the group had disbanded, leaving them with no prospects in sight. With limited options, the sisters made the audacious decision to escape to Johannesburg, carrying with them only the clothes on their backs. Fearful of returning home due to the specter of their abusive father, they sought refuge in a cramped room in Evaton near Vereeniging, sharing their living space with nine other individuals.
Upon arriving in Johannesburg, they sought opportunities in the music industry, including a visit to Gallo Records, but their aspirations were met with rejection. Musicians they encountered advised Rebecca to return to school, underscoring her tender age of 14. Amidst the hardships they faced, Jabu Sibumbe, a bass player for Stimela, emerged as a beacon of support, providing much-needed financial assistance for food. His paternal care continued to guide Rebecca, a role he still assumes in her life to this day.
Career
Rebecca's journey into the music industry commenced in 1986 when she boldly entered the 'Shell Road to Fame,' a talent competition designed to discover promising musicians. Regrettably, her initial attempt did not yield victory. However, undeterred by the setback, she pressed on with unwavering determination.
The subsequent year, she made another valiant effort, and to her surprise, she emerged victorious as the best vocalist in the competition. This marked the begining of her musical journey.
Following her victory in the Shell Road to Fame competition, Rebecca faced the challenge of securing a record deal. Eventually, an opportunity popped up when MFM offered her a recording contract, but it came with a condition that gospel music was strictly off-limits. Instead, she was urged to perform disco songs, a genre aimed at boostering record sales to compete with the era's prominent female artists, such as Brenda Fassie, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, and Mercy Phakela.
However, it was the persuasive efforts of Sizwe Zako that led the MFM executives to reconsider their stance. Through his influence, they consented to incorporate a single gospel track in Rebecca Malope's debut album, "Sthembile Kuwe." To her delight, this gospel song garnered a more enthusiastic reception compared to the pop tracks featured on the album.
In the year 1989, the gospel artist released two albums, "Thank You Very Much" and "Woza Lovey." Both of these albums achieved an impressive platinum status, underscoring the growing acclaim surrounding her music. In 1990, Malope also released another album titled "Buyani." The title track, "Buyani," was a dedication to figures she regarded as heroes of the struggle, with a particular focus on Nelson Mandela, who had been released from Robben Island prison that same year. This album soared to double platinum status, and Rebecca Malope's remarkable talent earned her the award of the Best Female Vocalist at the OKTV Awards, beating Brenda Fassie.
Continuing her musical evolution, in 1991, Rebecca released her final pop album, "Saturday Nite." True to her style, she once again included a selection of three gospel songs, ensuring her unique blend of musical genres continued to resonate with her dedicated audience.
Subsequently, Rebecca's career has been marked by significant breakthroughs, spanning an impressive three-decade journey. Notably, her first ten gospel albums achieved the coveted gold status. Building on this remarkable success, her recent six albums went on to achieve even more platinum certification.
Private Life
Rebecca Malope's family history includes two siblings, a brother named Jonathan and a sister named Cynthia, who tragically passed away due to AIDS-related illnesses.
Rebecca found enduring happiness through her marriage to Themba Tshabalala, who holds a managerial position at Krone, an import and export firm.
In 2004, despite previous medical advice suggesting otherwise, Rebecca became pregnant. However, the joy was tempered by the heartbreaking experience of suffering a miscarriage. During this challenging year, she made a compassionate and life-altering decision to legally adopt the daughters of her late sister. The adopted daughters, named Zweli, Noluthando, and Thandeka, found a loving and supportive home with Rebecca, solidifying the bonds of family and providing them with a bright future.
Rebecca Malope has also received an honorary doctorate from both the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of California for her exceptional contributions to the music industry and underscores the immense impact she has made in the world of music.
Albums
Rebecca Malope's prolific musical career, extending over a remarkable span of more than three decades, has seen her release more than 35 albums to date. Here are a list of some of the singer’s notable albums:
Rebecca (1987)
Woza Lovey (1988)
Thank You Very Much (1989)
Six of the best (1989)
Saturday Nite (1991)
Buyani (1990)
Rebecca Sings Gospel (1992)
Ngiyekeleni (1993)
Umoya Wam (1994)
Uzube Nam (1995)
Shwele Baba (1996)
Live at the State Theatre (1996)
Angingedwa (1997)
Free at Last: South African Gospel (1997)
Somlandela (1998)
Ukholo lwam (1999)
Siyabonga (2000)
Christmas with Rebecca and Friends (2000)
Sabel' Uyabizwa (2001)
Iyahamba Lenqola (2002)
Hlala Nami (2003)
The Queen of Gospel and the Village Pope (2004)
Qaphelani (2005)
The Greatest Hits (2005)
Umthombo (2006)
Live in Soweto (DVD) (2006)
Live in Soweto (CD) (2007)
Amakholwa (2007)
Ujehova Ungu'madida (2008)
African Classics (2009)
My Hero (2009)
Live at the Lyric Theatre (DVD) (2010)
Uzohamba Nami (2010)
Ukuthula (2011)
Rebecca Live Concert ft Tshwane Gospel Choir (CD) (2012)
Rebecca Live Concert ft Tshwane Gospel Choir (DVD) (2012)
Bayos' khomba(2013)
AmaVIP (2014)
Lord You Are Good (2019)
Awards
Shell Road to Fame Best Female Vocalist (1987)
OKTV Awards Best Female Artist (1990)
Cocoa Cola Full blust music show: Best Established Local Artist (1993)
Cocoa Cola Full blust music show: Best Established Local Artist (1994)
South African Music Awards Best Contemporary Gospel Album (1995)
South African Music Awards Best Female Artist (1997)
South African Music Awards Best Selling Album (1997)
South African Music Awards Best African Gospel Album (1998)
South African Music Awards Best Selling African Release Album (1998)
South African Music Awards Best Selling Album by South African (1998)
South African Music Awards Best African Gospel (1999)
Metro FM Music Awards Best Gospel Album (2000)
South African Music Awards Best African Gospel Album (2001)
South African Music Awards Best African Gospel Album (2002)
Metro FM Music Awards Best Gospel Album (2002)
South African Music Awards Best African Gospel Album (2003)
Kora Awards Best Female African Gospel Artist (2003)
South African Music Awards Best African Gospel Album (2004)
Metro FM Music Awards Best Gospel Album (2005)
South African Music Awards Best African/Traditional Gospel Album(2006)
South African Music Awards Best African Contemporary Gospel Album (2007)
SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards Best Artist (2008)
South African Music Awards Best African Traditional Gospel Album (2009)
South African Music Awards Best Traditional Faith Music Album (2014)
SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards Classic of All Time (2015)
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