The Legendary African Gospel Queen

Dr. Rebecca Malope, famously known as “The African Queen of Gospel,” has been in the music industry for over three decades, and her music has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide, making her one of the best-selling gospel artists of all time. She has released 36 albums to date, most of which have reached multi-platinum status.

Born in Lekazi near Neslpruit in Mpumalanga on the 30th of June 1968, Malope’s early years were marked by an illness that confined her to a wheelchair. However, she overcame this challenge and went on to sing hymns in her local church with her sisters. She later joined a gospel group as a teenager, which eventually led her to Johannesburg, where she was discovered by producer Sizwe Zakho.

Malope began her musical career in 1984, and in 1987, she won the Shell Road to Fame competition in the Female Vocalist category with her gospel song “Shine On,” which was dedicated to political unrest during apartheid in South Africa. Her career struggled to take off at first as she was given a recording contract that excluded gospel music, but with the help of Zakho, Malope’s debut album, Sthembele Kuwe, included one gospel song that became more popular than the pop songs on the album.

In 1992, Malope released her first full gospel album, Rebecca Sings Gospel, which was widely acclaimed and sold over one million copies. She has continued to release gospel albums and has won several awards, including the Coca-Cola Full Blast Music Show Best Established Local Artist award and Best Contemporary Gospel Album at the first South African Music Awards.

Malope has hosted her own syndicated television show, It’s Gospel Time, and was a judge on the Clash of Choirs South Africa show in 2013. She has also received an honorary doctorate from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and University of California. President Cyril Ramaphosa has awarded Rebecca Malope, a renowned South African gospel singer, with the Order of Ikhamanga for her contribution to South African music. The award is the highest honor granted for achievements in the arts, culture, literature, music, journalism, and sports in South Africa. Malope is married to businessman Themba Tshabalala.