Simphiwe Dana

Born in 1980 in Gcuwa in the Transkei, Eastern Cape, Simphiwe Dana grew up with gospel music as her father was a preacher. From 2002 she sang in small clubs in Johannesburg, where she began attracting attention. She made a major impact in 2004 with the release of 'Zandisile'. The album went platinum, selling over 40 000 copies and earning her several awards, including SAMAs for Best Jazz Vocal and Best Newcomer in 2005. On its worldwide release the album gained success in the Billboard charts and won an AVO Session Basel Award. Two years later, 'The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street' earned her Album Of the Year and Best Female Artist at the 2007 SAMAs. Her third album, 'Kulture Noir', was released in 2010, again to rave reviews.

In 2012 she released a live album, 'An Evening with Sipmhiwe Dana Live in Concert', which features her singing some of her best-known hits accompanied by a 27-piece orchestra. It won a SAMA for Best Live DVD. In late 2014 she released her fourth studio album, 'Firebrand', including the singles 'Nzima', dedicated to the fallen miners of Marikana, and 'My Light', produced by Nigerian guitarist Kunle Ayo.