Up in the air with yvonne chaka chaka
1
section February 2015 Sawubona 00 traveller 22 Sawubona April 2015 How have you evolved as a musician over the course of your long career? 2015 marks 10 years since I became a Goodwill Ambassador and 30 years since I entered the music industry. I’ve learnt that you can’t be complacent: you need to evolve and continually reinvent yourself. I collaborate with young and different artists. For me, staying relevant is about knowing what’s happening in the industry, but not changing my genre of music or who I am, as that’s what’s given me my staying power. Work with different, young people, but don’t lose your personal touch. As one of SA’s best-loved singers and a dedicated Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, Yvonne Chaka Chaka is a regular traveller. As she approaches her 50 th birthday, she tells Gillian Klawansky about her journey so far UP IN THE AIR WITH… YVONNE CHAKA CHAKA What’s your favourite place outside SA? Rwanda, which is the cleanest country in the world and one where crime is now just history. I think the genocide of 1994 really made people sit up and realise that death and anarchy aren’t worth it. Now you can walk around the streets at 4am and no-one will grab your cellphone, so you don’t have to look over your shoulder. Another place I love is Tasmania. I spent 10 days there and I really fell in love with it. It’s very beautiful, similar to Cape Town and the people are wonderful. How have your travels contributed to your personal and professional development? Travelling opens your mind and teaches you about diverse cultures and places. It’s made me appreciate people for who and what they are. Through travelling, you learn to tolerate differences. My philanthropic work has allowed me to encounter people I never anticipated meeting, from sharing a podium with United Nations Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon to being invited to the White House Summit on Malaria by former American President George Bush Jnr and being one of 10 women from around the world chosen by Melinda Gates to address a gathering. It’s been quite humbling and has enabled me to learn from others and then come home to share that knowledge with others. GIVING BACK IN AFRICA “I’m a very proud African and I believe the continent belongs to all those who live in it. It’s not the ‘dark continent’ many people think it is. There’s a great deal of potential here – all we need is the political will of our leaders to level the playing field. We can change the tide. It all starts with somebody, so why not let that person be me? I know I can’t change the world, but I can help change people’s mindsets. I can be part of the solution, instead of worsening the problem by criticising things without taking action.” . “I’m a very proud African and I believe the continent belongs to all those who live in it.”
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Transcript of Up in the air with yvonne chaka chaka
section
February 2015 Sawubona 00
traveller
22 Sawubona April 2015
How have you evolved as a musician over the course of your long career? 2015 marks 10 years since I became a Goodwill Ambassador and 30 years since I entered the music industry. I’ve learnt that you can’t be complacent: you need to evolve and continually reinvent yourself. I collaborate with young and different artists. For me, staying relevant is about knowing what’s happening in the industry, but not changing my genre of music or who I am, as that’s what’s given me my staying power. Work with different, young people, but don’t lose your personal touch.
As one of SA’s best-loved singers and a dedicated Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, Yvonne Chaka Chaka is a regular traveller. As she approaches her 50th birthday, she tells Gillian Klawansky about her journey so far
UP IN THE AIR WITH… YVONNE CHAKA CHAKA
What’s your favourite place outside SA? Rwanda, which is the cleanest country in the world and one where crime is now just history. I think the genocide of 1994 really made people sit up and realise that death and anarchy aren’t worth it. Now you can walk around the streets at 4am and no-one will grab your cellphone, so you don’t have to look over your shoulder.
Another place I love is Tasmania. I spent 10 days there and I really fell in love with it. It’s very beautiful, similar to Cape Town and the people are wonderful.
How have your travels contributed to your personal and professional development? Travelling opens your mind and teaches you about diverse cultures and places. It’s made me appreciate people for who and
what they are. Through travelling, you learn to tolerate differences.
My philanthropic work has allowed me to encounter people I never anticipated meeting, from sharing a podium with United Nations Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon to being invited to the White House Summit on Malaria by former American President George Bush Jnr and being one of 10 women from around the world chosen by Melinda Gates to address a gathering. It’s been quite humbling and has enabled me to learn from others and then come home to share that knowledge with others.
GIVING BACK IN AFRICA“I’m a very proud African and I believe the continent belongs to all those who live in it. It’s not the ‘dark continent’ many people think it is. There’s a great deal of potential here – all we need is the political will of our leaders to level the playing field. We can change the tide. It all starts with somebody, so why not let that person be me? I know I can’t change the world, but I can help change people’s mindsets. I can be part of the solution, instead of worsening the problem by criticising things without taking action.” .
“I’m a very proud
African and I believe th e
continent belongs to all
th ose wh o live in it.”
25STraveller.indd 1 2015/03/11 2:36 PM
