adminREBECCA Malope is feted across the world for her talent as a gospel star. But nothing comes close to when, in 2008 as part of her 40th birthday celebrations, she was invited to Maputo in Mozambique to spend time with former president Nelson Mandela.
“I was overwhelmed by some of the politicians who were there. They were all dressed so elegantly and they sang along to my songs, which made me feel important,” she reminisces.
Malope relates this tale as she talks to Sowetan about her new album AmaVIP, which was released last week. I ask her if the title reflects on where she places herself in the food chain of society and rank. “God keeps me grounded,” she responds.
Malope argues that the message of the title track and the music is that there are no VIPs (very important people) in God’s kingdom; everyone is equal.
She reckons that she is the same woman from Mpumalanga who came to Johannesburg in the late 1980s in search of fame and fortune.
Her rags-to-riches tale is well-chronicled in the archives of the South African music hall of fame. And she has scaled the highest levels of success as one of the biggest selling musicians in the country, and how she keeps winning the Best Gospel Album Award at the SA Music Awards is the stuff of legends. — Sowetan.
Online Reporter