Zonke Dikana (born 11th October, 1979, Age: 44 years old) is a South African music artist, songwriter, and producer who rose to fame as a result of her third album Ina Ethe (2011).
Originally from Johannesburg, but born in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Zonke took the music industry by the storm through her meteoric rise to fame. The album got double-platinum certification and also racked up a few awards. Since then, she has gone on to release other chart-topping albums and several hit singles to date.
Since the inception of her music career in 1997, the Soul and R&B singer has organized and performed several concerts and music tours. She has equally collaborated with other South African and international music stars including Lionel Richie, and many others. Asides music, she was named as one of the judges on the first episode of X-Factor which lasted from September to December 2014.
Summary of Zonke Dikana’s Biography
Full name: Zonke Dikana
Gender: Female
Date of birth: 11th October, 1979
Place of Birth: Eastern Cape, South Africa
Zonke Dikana’s Age: 44 years old
Ethnicity: African
Nationality: South African
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Marital Status: Married
Zonke Dikana’s Husband: Tumi Mokoena
Zonke Dikana’s Children: Noah and Milani
Zonke Dikana’s Parents: Anneline Malebo (mother)
Famous for: Her third album Ina Ethe (2011)
Zonke Dikana’s Instagram: zonkemusic
Twitter: @ZonkeMusic
Zonke Dikana’s Early Life and Education
Born in 1979, Zonke Dikana celebrates her birthday on the 11th day of October, every year. The singer who prefers to go by her stage name Zonke spent her childhood in KwaZakhele, Eastern Cape, South Africa. She was raised in a musical background as her late step-mother Anneline Malebo sang for a musical band known as “Joy” while her father worked as a drummer for a group named “Black Slave and the Flamingo”.
Zonke’s father taught her most of what she knows about music both the theory of composition and how to stand out at her game. She developed an interest in music while still schooling at Masiphatisani High in Motherwell Township Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Town. As a child, her dream to become an artist made her teachers at the school slightly disappointed. However, their discouragement got her even more determined and inspired to become a creative force in the music industry.
Before going fully into music, Zonke Dikana obtained a degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Bloemfontein in 1997. She made a distinctive entrance into the music landscape as her late stepmother Anneline, who was her biggest mentor introduced the South African star to different big artists including Joe Nina, Deborah Fraser, and Ringo. These artists engaged Zonke in either writing music or some vocal activities.
She first earned professional success in show business when she wrote a song titled “Africa, My Motherland” for Germany-based band Jazzkantine. The band later became popularly known as Culture Clan after rappers Mandla and Mzo and Zonke. The band released an album in 2003 titled “Africa” and this album won the group awards in Channel O and Metro FM Music Awards. However, Zonke wanted to sail her own ship, despite the success the group had seen. This led her to drop her debut album Soulitary while still in Germany.
She gained huge fame in 2011 after dropping her third album Ina Ethe which was sold massively and was certified double platinum. The album was also nominated at the 18th South Africa Music Awards. After this initial break, she spent time working as a session vocalist on the Johannesburg scene, recording tracks for promoting jingles and working as a backup singer for some famous artists.
More spotlight was beamed on her in 2013 after she recorded and released “Give and Take Live,” which was certified gold only two months after it was launched. The live album also earned her a place in Channel O’s list of Africa’s Top 10 Female Singing Sensations. She is currently not only one of the biggest names in South Africa’s music game who releases multi-platinum albums, but she also writes and produces her own work.
How Many Songs Does Zonke Dikana Have?
The accomplished star has been experiencing a burgeoning career, thanks to her soothing and heartwarming voice. So far, she has released four studio albums and one live performance album, as well as many hit singles. Her first album Soulitary with 17 tracks was launched in December 2006. The following year, the singer launched her second studio album – LIfe, Love ‘n Music via Kalawa Jazmee Records. Some of the tracks that make up her second album include Nomanyange, Anywhere U Go, Bafazi Belali, Malibongwe, and Never Again, etc.
Zonke Dikana released her third studio album titled Ina Ethe through TMP Entertainment in 2011. Following the success of the album, the singer was catapulted into the limelight. The album has 14 tracks including two hit singles – “Jik’Izinto” and “Feelings”. Thereafter, she launched a live performance album, Give and Take LIve in 2013. The album has 20 tracks including Ina Ethe and Feelings, among others. Her fourth studio album, Work of Heart contains 13 single tracks. The album was released in 2015 via Sony Entertainment Africa. Some of the hit tracks on the platinum-certified album include “Reach It” and “Meet Me in My Dreams”.
While she has launched several music albums, Zonke has also won numerous awards. Some of the awards include the South Africa Music Awards, Channel O Music Video Awards, MTV African Music Awards, Metro FM Music Awards, and much more. She has also written and co-written hits for Kwaito rapper Thebbe, dance artist Winne Khumalo, and late R&B star TK. She has also worked with big names like Osikido and Bongo Maffin.
She’s currently signed to Sony Music Africa and is an all-around singer who can sing in both Xhosa and English language. While at Kalawa Jazmee Records, her kind of music was basically house music. She later switched to Neo-soul and Afro-soul upon signing to TMP Entertainment. She gets her musical inspirations from musical legends like Busi Mhlongo, Brenda Fassie, and Miriam Makeba.
Read Also: 10 Extraordinary South African Musicians You Must See
Love Life of Zonke Dikana, the South African Singer
While the Afro-Soul and R&B singer has become highly successful in her career, she is also successful in her love life. She is happily married to a man named Tumi Mokoena. There is a scarcity of information regarding her husband; the much we know is that he is a lawyer. Although Zonke Dikana has always kept her fans updated on her every move; nevertheless, the details of her love life and relationship haven’t been so open to the public. There is no much information available with regards to when and how she met her husband, as well as when they tied the knot. The singer is a doting mother to two adorable kids, a son – Noah (born in 2013) and a daughter named Milani (born in 2003).
