In celebration of National Women’s Day, UKZN was visited by renowned singer, business women, ambassador and award winner, Dr Yvonne Chaka Chaka at Westville Campus on August 8.

Known to the world as the “Princess of Africa”, Chaka Chaka, mother of four boys, encouraged women empowerment especially for women in the rural areas. She told the room full of women to always believe in themselves.

‘Get where you want to be because you want to be there,’ she said.

Chaka Chaka received an honorary doctorate during UKZN’s 2012 Humanities Graduation ceremony and used the platform to champion the empowerment of women. She is also well known for her humanitarian work in Africa and other parts of the world.

She was recently presented with the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award for artists who use their talents to improve the state of the world.  She is the first African woman to receive this prestigious prize.

Of humble origins, Chaka Chaka grew up in Soweto at the height of apartheid.  She and her three sisters were raised by her mother, a domestic worker, who became the sole provider when her father died when she was only 11.  As a teenager in 1981, she was the first black child to feature on South African television.