Latest news with #ShellRoadtoFame
TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Basadi in Music Awards to honour Rebecca Malope with lifetime achievement recognition
Gospel star Rebecca Malope will be honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Basadi in Music Awards on August 2 at the Joburg Theatre. 'Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award is such an honour, I'm grateful beyond words,' she told TshisaLIVE. Rebecca, whose real name is Batsogile Lovederia Malope, rose to stardom when she won the Shell Road to Fame competition with her gospel anthem Shine On in 1987 and has been making strides since. The singer, dubbed 'The queen of gospel', has had a career spanning four decades with more than 36 albums to her name and more than 10-million records sold worldwide. 'To still be seen and celebrated after so many years in this industry is a great blessing from God — one I never take for granted.' Beyond the music scene, Rebecca has earned her stripes in other avenues. She hosted the TV show It's Gospel Time for 15 years, served as a judge on Clash of the Choirs and was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2021 for her contribution to South African arts. While she is not done making music yet, Rebecca is also preparing to venture into the fashion industry by launching her first collection. 'I'm in my sewing studio creating a dress from scratch to mark this moment. It's not just a celebration of where I've been but of where I'm going. I'm stepping into a new chapter, adding fashion design to the journey, and I'm excited for what's ahead.'
TimesLIVE
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Musician Sizwe Zako to be honoured at tribute event
South Africa is preparing to pay tribute to one of it's most celebrated musical pioneers Sizwe Zako. A legacy event is set to take place on June 15 in Johannesburg. Renowned as 'the architect of South African gospel and jazz', Sizwe's career spans more than four decades, during which he has shaped the sound of African music and inspired generations of artists. Speaking to TshisaLIVE, the Eastern Cape-born Sizwe said he's a self-taught pianist and producer, as his mother bought him a piano instead of Christmas clothes. 'I didn't ask for toys or clothes like other children that Christmas, I asked my mother for a piano. That was the beginning of everything.' Sizwe has worked with some of the country's best-known artists including Rebecca Malope, Vuyo Mokoena, Israel Mosehla and Abigail Khubeka. 'I was once instrumental in unearthing talent through the Shell Road to Fame competition, helping launch the careers of beloved South African voices. This celebration is an honour not just for me but for many voices I have empowered, the youth I've mentored and the soul of a nation I've helped shape through sound.' Sizwe will be formally honoured by Nelson Mandela University, where he will receive an honorary doctorate on May 23, a fitting recognition for a life dedicated to uplifting others through music.
