Simphiwe Dana, a Xhosa singer and song-writer from South Africa, is Simphiwe Dana. Her unique mix of Jazz, Afrosoul, RAP, Traditional and Jazz has earned her the title “new Miriam Makeba”. Simphiwe was born 1980 in Gcuwa in Transkei in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Simphiwe grew up listening to both gospel and choral church music. Her father was a preacher. She attended the Vela Private School, Mthatha, and graduated in 1997. She pursued her interest in graphic design in her tertiary education and was awarded the Wits Technikon’s National Diploma in IT. She began singing in small clubs in Johannesburg in 2002. This was where she started to attract attention. Zandisile was her 2004 release. She had a huge impact on South Africa. The album was a huge success and won several awards, including a South African Music Award (SAMA), in 2005. The album was a huge success and Dana won the AVO Session Basel Award. [3] Dana has been compared to Dorothy Masuka and Miriam Makeba. She sings a unique musical style that combines traditional African music with modern soul, and thus hints of gospel, blues, and other influences. Her musical performances are so rich that her older peers, particularly women, have admired her. However, her youthfulness and ability to grasp contemporary pop music has made her a popular choice for young people. Dana has a wide repertoire of songs, including ‘Ndiredi,’ ‘Troubled Soldier,’ ‘Chula Ukunyathela,’ ‘Bantu Biko Street,’ ‘Zundiqondisisise,’ ‘Uzobuya Nii’, ’Sonini Nanini,’ and Naphakade. She sings the theme song for the Yizo Yizo television program. With consistent radio play and live appearances at important festivals and events such as Arts Alive and Cape Town International Jazz Festival, she has been a strong presence. With two commercially-successful and critically acclaimed albums to her credit, she maintains a busy live performance roster, which increasingly includes international dates. In the summer 2010, Kulture Noir was her third album. Later, she released Kulture Noir, her third album. Simphiwe is a vocal voice on social media, including politics in South Africa. Simphiwe Dana also participates in Europe’s World Music Scene. From Wikipedia
