Abigail Kubeka

Abigail Kubeka (1941-) [1]. Singer, songwriter and performer.

Biography

Abigail Kubeka was born in 1941 in Orlando East, Soweto's first formal township. Her mother washed clothes for a living and her father worked in a warehouse. Kubeka attended a missionary boarding school in Kilnerton, near Pretoria. At an early age, Khubeka displayed her talent for singing at school.

She was befriended by Miriam Makeba in 1957, becoming a part of the all-girl singing group The Skylarks which at that time also comprised the legendary Letta Mbulu and Mary Rabotaba. The Skylarks, together with other groups such as the Jazz Maniacs evolved and promoted the marabi and mbaqanga styles of music.

Kubeka went on to understudy the legendary Makeba in the famous international jazz opera King Kong, which went on to tour Europe successfully. In the 1960s, Kubeka accompanied musical giants Abdullah Ibrahim (then Dollar Brand) and Kippie Moeketsi in cabaret performances in the nightclubs of Hillbrow.

A prolific and versatile entertainer, Kubeka went on to perform in Philip Tabane's award-wining Jazzmakers, Tshooks Tschukudu's Elite Swingers and Mackay Davashe's Jazz Dazzlers. She performed to critical acclaim across venues in Africa, Europe and Asia, appearing alongside such stars as Eartha Kitt, Percy Sledge and Monk Montgomery.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Kubeka has performed in cabaret, stage musicals, dramas, TV sitcoms, reviews, and local and international films.

As singer

Her voice has taken her around southern Africa, playing at top cabaret venues. Kubeka's first album was released in Nigeria and Europe in 1981. In 1995 she performed for Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to South Africa. In 1999 she performed at the opening ceremony of the All Africa Games in Joburg, and in 2004 she performed at the South African Embassy in London, at the country's celebrations of its 10 years of democracy.

On stage

She started her stage career as understudy for Makeba in the jazz opera King Kong (1959), joining the tour to London and Europe.

Kubeka went on to perform in several musicals, including: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1979), Six of the Best and Two Women of Africa. She starred in the PACT-Lindberg production of King Afrika at the Standard Bank Arena in 1988. She starred in Ain't Misbehavin' at the André Huguenet Theatre in 1990. She also appeared in Xoli Norman's Our Father, Ma's got the Blues, Amen (2003) and Thoroughly Modern Millie (at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre, 2007).

On screen

She has appeared in national and international films.

Film appearances include: Knock-Out (1969), Joe Bullet (1973), City of Blood (1987), Cry, the Beloved Country (1995), The Long Run (2001), The Jakes Are Missing (2015), Love on Safari (2018), Amandla (2022), The Deal (2024). Other films include Hijack and The Line.

Appearances on TV include: African Skies (1993), Holby City (2005), Hillside (2006-2008), Wild at Heart (2007-2011), Intersexions (2013), Queen Sono (2020), Catch Me A Killer (2024).

Awards and honours

Kubeka has received several awards, and has appeared in City Press Top 10 Women Achievers. In 1986 she received the Women of Our Time award, together with 84 other African women. In 2005, she was named one of Soweto's Top 100 People by the Department of Arts and Culture.

In 2006, she was awarded the prestigious Order of Ikhamanga in Silver, given for excellence in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.