African Celebrities: Yvonne Chaka Chaka

Yvonne Chaka Chaka (Yvonne Machaka) is a South African singer, dubbed the "Princess of Africa". She has been at the forefront of South African popular music for more than 20 years.

Yvonne Chaka Chaka was born in Dobsonville in Soweto in 1965. She became the first black child to appear on South African television. Chaka Chaka started singing when she was 20 years old in 1985, when Phil Hollis of Dephon Records discovered her in Johannesburg.

Chaka Chaka has two diplomas from the University of South Africa, one in adult education, another in local government, management and administration. She also studied speech and drama at Trinity College, London and qualifying in 1997.

Yvonne Chaka Chaka is married to Dr. Mandlalele Mhinga, who is a prince of the Shangaan tribe and she has 4 sons. She had his first son before she married to her husband.

Chaka Chaka owns a limousine company together with her husband, Dr. Mandlalele Mhinga. She has her own music label and her own production company. She teaches literacy part-time at the University of South Africa, sits on several boards of charitable organizations and NGOs, and serves on the board of the Johannesburg Tourism Company.