She's still burning up at 60

Musical icon enters her sixth decade proving purpose, not age, defines greatness

- Edwin Naidu

Yvonne Chaka Chaka has a beautiful lust for life.

The evergreen musician, humanitarian and entrepreneur recently turned 60. However, she has no plans to stop singing and is equally determined to continue spreading love and goodwill through her music and charitable acts.

Chaka Chaka has been at the forefront of South African popular music for almost four decades and is popular throughout Africa: in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Gabon, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast. She still performs across the continent.

Her entrepreneurial ventures, music and humanitarian work have been significant parts of her career.

Born Ntombizodwa Moloko Machaka on 18 March, she is proud of her Dobsonville roots.

To celebrate her milestone birthday, she not only held a concert with celebrated musical guests, she also teamed up with a national retail chain to spread the love.

She approached Wendy Lucas-Bull, chairperson of Shoprite Holdings, for 100 food parcels that were recently distributed to families in Dobsonville, Soweto, where she grew up.

She intends to spread this initiative to other townships around South Africa, as well as to neighbouring countries such as eSwatini, and is looking for sponsors.

When I interviewed her at her home in Bryanston, Chaka Chaka kindly made me her mom Sophie's famous cheese and tomato toast. We chatted over a meal and wonderful coffee.

She said she and her sisters, Refiloe and Doreen, came from humble beginnings. Her mom had high hopes for her children.

"My mother worked hard as a domestic worker. She earned around R40 a month. She used to say, 'I want you girls to be better than me — empowered and doing things for yourself."

Life was a challenge for the family. Her dad, Habakkuk, died when she was 11. But neither this nor growing up during the height of apartheid held her back.