Zonke Dikana

BIO

Born in Kwazakhele, Port Elizabeth, Zonke Dikana studied in Bloemfontein. While living in Germany she met group Jazz Cantina. After writing a song for them, ‘Africa My Motherland’, they came to South Africa to record her music. Jazz Cantina was reborn as Culture Clan, which now included Zonke and two other rappers. Culture Clan released their music in South Africa and in Germany and went on to win Channel O and Metro FM Awards. Zonke recorded a solo album, Soulitary, released through Columbia Records in Italy, Germany and Japan. In South Africa she signed with Kalawa Jazmee, where she released the house-influenced Life, Love and Music in 2007. She also wrote songs for the likes of Mafikizolo, Don Laka, Black Coffee, Guffy Pilane, Winnie Khumalo, Tshepo Tsholo and Theo Kgosinkwe.

Zonke’s second album, Ina Ethe, was released in late 2011 on independent TMP Records and included the hit is ‘Jik Izinto’. It earned her a Sama in 2012 for Best African Adult Contemporary Album. Her sister Lulu is also a singer. Her father Vuyisile 'Viva' Dikana played drums on British soul band Simply Red's album Life, while her stepmother was famed singer Anneline Malebo from Joy.