Sibongile Khumalo, a South African jazz singer was born in 24 September 1957 in Soweto.  Sibongile is a wife and a mother of three, the oldest is 28 years old.

Sibongile is recorgnized as the first person to sing the title role of Princess Magogo in the first African opera Princess Magogo ka Dinuzulu.

Sibongile began her musical journey at the age of eight under Emily Motsieloa. She got the influence of music from her father, professor of music Khabi Mngoma. She holds music degrees from the University of Zululand (B.A. Mus.) and Wits University (B.A. Hons), as well as a Higher Diploma in Personnel Management (Wits). She has taught and researched music at the University of Zululand, FUBA Academy and at the Madimba Institute of African Music (based at the Funda Centre).

Sibongile also has an active interest in the documentation and development of South African Africa. Khumalo has treated South Africans to numerous critically performances, namely: The 3 Faces of Sibongile Khumalo (Kippies, Johannesburg 1992); Sibongile Khumalo in Concert (Grahamstown Festival, Market Theatre - Johannesburg, and Baxter Theatre - Cape Town 1993); performances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra (Johannesburg and Cape Town 1994 and 1995); the Brahms Alto Rhapsody (Johannesburg City Hall 1994 and Durban City Hall 1996); Sisters in Synch with Aviva Pelham (Civic Theatre - Johannesburg and Grahamstown Festival 1994); Rhythms of Africa with the National Symphony Orchestra (Sun City, Durban and Johannesburg 1994); Handel's Messiah with Lord Yehudi Menuhin (Cape Town and Johannesburg 1995); Sibongile Khumalo and Friends (Johannesburg 1995). She has also had concerts in France  with conductor Hubert Soudant; Egypt  with the National Symphony Orchestra; and London  during Africa in 1995 with the Brodsky Quartet and at the S.A.A. 50th Anniversary Celebrations at the South African High Commission in London.

Sibongile's large musical capacity launched her into the public eye when she won the Standard Bank Young Artist Award at the Grahamstown Festival in 1993. Sibongile has since performed with several celebrated groups and artists. She has also performed on former President Nelson Mandela's 75th Birthday and 1994 inauguration. She also led the South African national anthem at the World Cup rugby finals in 1995

South African Women for Women is proud to recognize Sibongile Khumalo for her music and her performing artistry, which shares the spice, wisdom, and wealth of experience inherited from her family and her community.

Source:

• Music.org

Mara Louw, the Muvhango star and main actor on SABC2 is also a singer, songwriter and a musician. She is also known as one of the Idols South African Judges. She owns a company called Sechaba events promotions. Mara Louw hosts a television show called "Mara & Friends" that bring Sasko Flour's message of 'better tasting baking' to life. With her baking she is always a popular choice for stylish business events and special dinner functions. She serves as Director of BASA (Business & Arts South Africa). She is a board member of the African Hall of Fame trust (AHOF) and a board member of the Miriam Makeba Home for Girls

Mara started her career at the age of ten with the Wilba Music Group which is today known as Imilonji Kantu. Mara Louw has been involved in music for more than 25 years. In 1970 Mara joined a traditional music group called "Meropa" which was conducted by Caiphus Semenya. She toured all over the world with Meropa.

Mara performed for the Queen at a Royal Command Performance on October 15, 1975 in Glasgow.  Her career has taken her to Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland and Namibia. She featured in Dobie Gray and Main Ingredients shows. Mara also performed in the Mandela Concert at London's Wembley Stadium. She appeared with Nelson Mandela during his visit to Glasgow in 1993. She also sang at George Square and The Royal Concert Hall. When Mara returned to South Africa, she started a solo career. She sang at the inaugural ceremony of President Nelson Mandela and on Freedom Day Celebrations at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Her performances never stopped.

Mara became famous and was named best female vocalist by Radio Sotho and Radio Zulu. She was also nominated for an Artes award for her album "Mara". She also received another award when she was performing with the National Symphony Orchestra in Johannesburg. She was elected President of the Musicians Union of South Africa with Johny Clegg as Vice President. She was invited by the Egyptian Government to perform at the Cairo International Song Festival as a Guest Artist.

Sources:

• Saskoflour
• About entertainment
• Joburg.org
  

Gcina Mhlophe was born in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal in 1960 and is better known as a world famous author and South Africa's leading storyteller.

Gcina Mhlophe had never visited a library until she was 20 years old. There were no libraries in the small village where she grew up. When she was a child, the closest library was reserved for White people only.

Gcina moved from Durban to Johannesburg where she now lives with her German husband and daughter Khwezi Heike. Gcina got her love of story telling from her grandmother. She has been writing and performing on stage and on television for many years now.  She has written many children's books as well as adult audience poetry, short stories and plays. She produced and performed on a children's CD with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. She has written music for the SABCTV series Gcina & Friends, where she performed her own stories for television audiences.

In 2000, she released an award-winning storytelling CD called Fudukazi's Magic for German audiences. She also wrote both story and music in collaboration with guitarist, Bheki Khoza, for the Animated Tales of the World TV series. Her CD and book, Nozincwadi Mother of Books, was produced as part of her nationwide reading road show to South African rural schools. In Love Child, a collection of stories, Gcina shares her personal journey through the social and political landscapes of the 1980s. 

Gcina Mhlophe does not have an undergraduate degree, although she holds an honorary doctorate in literature which she received from the London Open University as well as the University of Natal.  Her work has received awards from BBC Africa Service for Radio Drama, The Fringe First Award in the Edinburgh Festival, the Josef Jefferson Award in Chicago, and OBBIE in New York.

Gcina Mhlophe focuses her work on oral history, telling stories - anything to teach children to love words and books the way she does. She has spent years touring schools in South Africa, working with children, and telling them stories. Gcina presents our rich storytelling tradition wherever she goes.  As a child, she saw that the rich oral tradition of Africa was diminished by those in power. Today, she celebrates that tradition, while continuing her mission to bring literacy and learning to South Africa. 

Sources:

• The connection
• FB10