Rebecca Malope


Batsogile Lovederia Malope known professionally as Dr Rebecca Malope, is a multi-award-winning South African gospel singer. She is known as "The African Queen of Gospel." Her music career spans more than three decades. She has sold at least 10 million albums worldwide, making her one of the biggest selling gospel artists of all time. Most of the 35 albums she has released have reached multi-platinum status.
Since 2004, she has been the hostess of the TV show It's Gospel Time where she never forgets to say "Masimshayeleni'Zandla", which is loosely translated as "let us give him/her a round of applause". In 2013 she was one of the judges in Clash of Choirs South Africa.

Early life

Dr Rebecca Malope was born in 1968 in Lekazi near Neslpruit in Mpumalanga. In her early age she was confined to a wheelchair after an illness; doctors believed she would be unable to walk on her own. As a child, she and her sisters sang hymns in their local church. Later, as a teen, she joined a gospel group which eventually led her to Johannesburg, where she was brought to the attention of producer Zizwe Zakho.

Career

Her musical career began in 1984. At the age of 18 she and her sister Cynthia left their home township of Kanyamazane, near Nelspruit, and hiked to Evaton, and then finally reached Johannesburg. In 1985 Malope entered the Shell Road to Fame television contest with the band she was with, but they were eliminated in the first round of the competition.
In 1986 she meet Sizwe Zako at Gallo Studios. He remembered her from their unsuccessful auditions. Zako felt that with his guidance Malope could win the Shell Road to Fame were she was to enter the competition as a solo artist. In 1987, Malope did so and won Shell Road to Fame in the category of Female Vocalist with the gospel song "Shine On", dedicated to political unrest during Apartheid in South Africa.
Despite winning Shell Road to Fame, she struggled to find a record company. Finally she was given a recording contract by MFM but was told that gospel music was off-limits. She was pushed to perform disco songs to sell records to compete with Brenda Fassie, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Mercy Phakela who were the biggest female artists at the time.
Sizwe Zako convinced the executives at MFM to include one gospel song on Malope's debut album Sthembile Kuwe. The song was more well received than the pop songs on the album. In 1989 Malope released two albums, Thank You Very Much and Woza Lovey. Both albums reached platinum status. In 1990 Malope released Buyani. The title track "Buyani" was dedicated to individuals she viewed as struggling heroes, particularly Nelson Mandela who was released from Robben Island prison the same year. The album achieved double platinum status and Malope won Best Female Vocalist at the OKTV Awards, beating Brenda Fassie. In 1991 she released her final pop album Saturday Nite. Like previous albums, she included three gospel songs.
In 1992, Malope released a full gospel album Rebecca Sings Gospel. The album was well received by music critics, media, and fans, and widened her fame. She was the first gospel artist whose songs were played along with mainstream music like pop and Afrikaans music. To this date the album has sold over one million copies and is regarded as one of the best gospel albums of all time in South Africa.
Following the success of Rebecca Sings Gospel, in 1993 Ngiyekeleni was released, and followed the same success as her previous album. In 1994 she released Umoya Wam whose title track is known as Malope's signature song. The album surpassed her previous records in terms of sales. Malope won the Coca-Cola Full Blast Music Show Best Established Local Artist award with a record of 10 million votes by listeners. She won Best Contemporary Gospel Album at the first South African Music Awards in 1995. The album was dedicated to peace in South Africa as it transitioned to democracy in 1994. In 1995 she released Shwele Baba; it broke records at the time becoming the fastest-selling album in South Africa, selling 100 000 units within three weeks of release.
Malope has released 35 albums in a musical career spanning more than 30 years to date. In 2009 she released her 30th album, entitled My Hero, containing double CDs. In April 2010 she released her 31st album Uzohamba Nami. On 14 March 2011, Malope released her 32nd album, Ukuthula. She was quoted in a local newspaper saying: "In Ukuthula people must expect rejuvenating sounds and I love the whole album. I decided on that name after thinking about the state the world is in today. People have no peace. There is war everywhere, even in churches. I want people to come together and more importantly have peace in their lives, so that we can have peace in the world."

Personal life

She is married to a businessman Themba Tshabalala.

Honours and awards

Dr Rebecca Malope received an honorary doctorate from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of California for her contribution to the music industry.
YearAwardWorkResults
1987Shell Road to Fame Best Female VocalistRebecca Malope
1990OKTV Awards Best Female ArtistRebecca Malope
1993Coca-Cola Full Blast Music Show: Best Established Local ArtistRebecca Malope
1994Coca-Cola Full Blast Music Show: Best Established Local ArtistRebecca Malope
1995South African Music Awards Best Female ArtistRebecca Malope
-South African Music Awards Best Contemporary Gospel AlbumUmoya Wam
1996South African Music Awards Best Female ArtistRebecca Malope
South African Music Awards: Best Contemporary Gospel AlbumShwele Baba
South African Music Awards Best Selling AlbumShwele BabaFirst Runner up
1997South African Music Awards Best Female ArtistRebecca Malope
South African Music Awards Best Selling AlbumUzube Nam
South African Music Awards Best Contemporary Gospel AlbumUzube Nam
Kora All Africa Music Awards Most Promising Female ArtistRebecca Malope
1998South African Music Awards Best African Gospel AlbumAngingedwa
South African Music Awards Best Selling African Release AlbumAngingedwa
South African Music Awards Best Selling Album by South AfricanAngingedwa
South African Music Awards Best Female ArtistRebecca Malope
1999South African Music Awards Best African GospelSomlandela
South African Music Awards Best Female ArtistRebecca Malope
Kora Awards Best Southern Africa ArtistRebecca Malope
2000South African Music Awards Best African Gospel AlbumUkholo Lwam
Metro FM Music Awards Best Gospel AlbumSiyabonga
2001South African Music Awards Best African Gospel AlbumSiyabonga
2001Metro FM Music Awards Best Gospel AlbumSabel'Uyabizwa
2002South African Music Awards Best African Gospel AlbumSabel'Uyabizwa
Metro FM Music Awards Best Gospel AlbumIyahamba Lenqola
2003South African Music Awards Best African Gospel AlbumIyahamba Lenqola
South African Music Awards Best Female ArtistRebecca Maalope for Iyahamba Lenqola
Kora Awards Best Female African Gospel ArtistRebecca Malope for Iyahamba Lenqola
Kora Awards Best African Music VideoIyahamba Lenqola
Metro FM Music Awards Best Gospel AlbumHlala Nami
2004South African Music Awards Best African Gospel AlbumHlala Nami
Kora Awards Best Female African Gospel ArtistRebecca Malope for Rebecca & Tsepo
Metro FM Music Awards Best Gospel AlbumRebecca & Tsepo
2005South African Music Awards Best African Gospel AlbumRebecca & Tespo
Metro FM Music Awards Best Gospel AlbumRebecca Malope for Qaphelani
2006South African Music Awards Best Female ArtistRebecca Malope for Qaphelani
South African Music Awards Best African/Traditional Gospel AlbumQaphelani
South African Music Awards Most Popular Artist of the yearRebecca Malope
2007South African Music Awards Best African Contemporary Gospel AlbumUmthombo
Metro FM Music Awards Best Gospel AlbumAmakholwa
2008South African Music Awards Best African Traditional Gospel AlbumAmakholwa
2008SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards Best DVDRebecca Live in Soweto
SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards Best ArtistRebecca Malope
SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards Life Time Achievement AwardAll Life's WorkHonoured
2009South African Music Awards Best African Traditional Gospel AlbumUehovah Ungumadida
2010Metro FM Music Awards Best Urban Gospel AlbumUzohamba Nami
2011South African Music Awards Best African Traditional Gospel AlbumUzohamba Nami
Metro FM Music Awards Best Urban Gospel AlbumUkuthula
2013South African Music Awards Best Traditional Faith Music AlbumRebecca Live in Concert
2014South African Music Awards Best Traditional Faith Music AlbumBayos'Khomba
South African Music Awards Best Female ArtistRebecca Malope for Bayos'Khomba
2015South African Music Awards Best Traditional Faith Music AlbumAma VIP
Metro FM Music Awards Best Urban Gospel AlbumAma VIP
SABC Crown Gospel Music Awards Classic of All TimeUmoya Wam
2017South African Music Awards Life Time Achievement AwardLife's WorkHonoured
2018DSTV Viewers Choice Awards Live time achievementLife's WorkHonoured

Discography

Dr Rebecca Malope is a South African gospel singer and television personality who rose to fame after winning the 1987 Shell Road to Fame Competition.
ShowCharacter
Clash of the Choirs South Africa – Seasons 1–3Judge-Herself
eKasi: Our Stories – Season 6Thembi
Gospel Alive – Seasons 1–16Guest Artist – Herself
Rolling With... – Season 4 Herself
The South African Music Awards – Season 20Performer – Herself
ZaziwaSeason 1Herself
Idols SA Season 14Guest Judge – Herself
Idols SA Season 15Guest Judge – Herself