Simphiwe Dana

Biography

Simphiwe Dana (born 23 January 1980) is a South African singer and songwriter who works mostly in her mother tongue, the Xhosa language. Dana is also known for her creative social commentary and activism through music as a political art form. Her career in music began in 2002, at the age of 22.
Born in Butterworth and raised in Lusikisiki in Transkei, Dana signed a record deal with Gallo Records and released her debut studio album, Zandisile×Zandisile10 October 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Vukani (feat. MXO & Modjadji)5:212Xandisile6:053Ndiredi5:414Ndize Mama Tata7:275Thwel' Ubunzima5:486Tribe (feat. Gregory Georgiades & Ashish Joshi)5:387Ingoma6:138Induku5:249Troubled Soldier (Carlos Mumbelli)7:1710Vela4:0111Chula Ukunyathela6:57 (2004), which became a commercially success, won Best Newcomer and Best Jazz Album.

Early life

Simphiwe was born on 23 January 1980 in Butterworth, Transkei, South Africa and raised in the town of Lusikisiki.
Dana came from a religious background with her father being a preacher and as she grew up in the church, exposing her to music in both choral and gospel forms.

Education

She attended Vela Private School in Mthatha, where she matriculated in 1997.
Her tertiary education pursued her interests in graphic design, and she successfully studied for her National Diploma in IT at the Wits Technikon, Johannesburg.

Career

After signed a record deal with Gallo Records, her debut album Zandisile×Zandisile10 October 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Vukani (feat. MXO & Modjadji)5:212Xandisile6:053Ndiredi5:414Ndize Mama Tata7:275Thwel' Ubunzima5:486Tribe (feat. Gregory Georgiades & Ashish Joshi)5:387Ingoma6:138Induku5:249Troubled Soldier (Carlos Mumbelli)7:1710Vela4:0111Chula Ukunyathela6:57 was released in 2004. The album sold very well and gained several awards, including some South African Music Award (SAMA) in 2005. On its worldwide release the album gained success in the Billboard charts and she won an AVO Session Basel Award.

In 2005, Dana won the "Best Newcomer" award and Best Jazz Vocal album at the 11th South African Music Awards with her first album Zandisile.
In 2007, she was named the "Best Female Artist", with the song "The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street", at the 13th South African Music Awards. She is a creative advocate of Afrofuturism and Afrofeminism.
On July 9, 2010, Dana's third studio album Kulture Noir×Kulture Noir2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Ndim Nawe5:162Umzali Wam5:293Ndim Iqhawe (Part 1)1:534Ndim Iqhawe (Part 2)7:075Ilolo6:226Zobuya Nin’ Iinkomo4:577Undishiyile7:428Hay’ Ihambo3:459Felas Azania5:4410Mayine7:0611Ingoma Ka Malane1:3612Inkwenkwezi3:52 was released in South Africa. At 10th Annually ceremony of Metro FM Music Awards, she took home two awards; Best Contemporary Jazz, Best Female. On November 25, 2018, she performed at Moncalieri Jazz Festival in Turin.
In 2013 she started to record her album Firebrand and delayed to release it following the exit to her former label. In early 2014, she signed a record deal with Sony Music. On October 21, 2015, his fourth studio album Firebrand was released. The album produced four singles "Killjoy", "Roll Me Down", "Masterpiece" and "My Light".
On April 24, 2020, her fifth studio album Bamako×Bamako24 April 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Usikhonzile5:062Kumnyama4:173Uzokhala4:294Mama Was a Kitchen Girl4:375Masibambaneni5:076Gwegweleza4:347Bye Bye Naughty Baby2:348Ndizamile4:179You Keep Calling4:3910Mkhonto3:5511Mr I4:0012Zabalaza4:1413Bamako1:57 was released.

Studio albums

Zandisile (2004)
The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street (2006)
Kulture Noir (2010)
Firebrand (2015)
Bamako (2020)
TBA (2025)

Live albums

An Evening with Simphiwe Dana: Live at the Lyric Theatre (2011)
Celebrating Ten Years Live at the Bassline (2016)
The Simphiwe Dana Symphony Experience (2017)

Inspiration

Dana's music draws strongly on her upbringing in the Transkei, and she cites the powerful singing of her mother as an inspiration for her and her siblings, and ultimately as a key motivator in her resolve to pursue her musical career.She has been cited as the modern day Mama Africa.