Abigail Kubeka

(1941*-)Singer and actress. Grew up in Johanneburg and was befriended by Miriam Makeba in 1957, becoming a part of the all-girl singing group The Skylarks. She started her stage career as understudy for Makeba in the jazz opera King Kong (1959), joining the tour to London and Europe. She went on to a successful solo career as singer and in 2005 was named one of Soweto's Top 100 People by the Department of Arts and Culture.

Sources

Shine Silently, in the South African Sunday Times ** 29 April 2012

KUBEKA, Abigail. (1939-) Singer, songwriter and performer. Made a name for herself as performer in the 1960 production of King Kong, with which she went on tour. Since then appeared in national and international films, made many recordings of her songs, and worked to foster performing arts among young people.

KUBEKA, Abigail. Actress. She went to London with King Kong, which was directed by Leon Gluckman in 1961. Stanley (Spike) Glasser was the musical director, Arthur Goldreich did the design and Arnold Dover did the choreography for this musical. Also starring Nathan Mdledle in the lead role, Joe Mogotsi and Peggy Phango. She remained a star in South Africa until the 1990’s. She starred in the PACT-Lindberg production of King Africa at the Standard Bank Arena in 1988. She starred in Ain’t Misbehavin’ at the André Huguenet Theatre in 1990 *** (De Beer, 1995, Tucker, 1997).