Blom Blom with Abigail Kubeka
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Abigail Kubeka (born 1941) is a South African singer, songwriter, musical arranger and actress who is known primarily for her musical performances, especially in cabaret.
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.
Sophiatown in the 1950s, where Kubeka spent her teens, was a pressure cooker of dynamic cultural development. Music and especially indigenous jazz had taken root in the community in a manner unprecedented in South Africa.
Kubeka's career started in 1957 when, at the age of 16, Miriam Makeba, having taken notice of her talent, invited her to join her Skylarks ensemble, which at that time also comprised the legendary Letta Mbulu and Mary Rabotaba. Kubeka was fortunate because when she entered the music industry she had musicians like Dorothy Masuka and the late Mariam Makeba to guide her.
In the 1960s, Kubeka accompanied musical giants Abdullah Ibrahim (then Dollar Brand) and Kippie Moeketsi in cabaret performances in the nightclubs of Hillbrow.
Kubeka also developed a career as an acclaimed actress in film, television and on stage. She featured in the films Hijack and The Line. Her stage roles include Des and Dawn Lindberg's King Afrika with Henry Cele and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with Judy Page.
Kubeka writes and arranges many of her own songs. She contributed the theme song for the sequel to the well-known documentary film What Happened to Mbuyisa?.
Kubeka has commanded huge world audiences, such as at the first Miss World Pageant to be held in South Africa in 1992 and at the opening ceremony of the All Africa Games in 1999. She has also performed for more intimate audiences, including former president Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II. Kubeka sings in many South African languages
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.
Sophiatown in the 1950s, where Kubeka spent her teens, was a pressure cooker of dynamic cultural development. Music and especially indigenous jazz had taken root in the community in a manner unprecedented in South Africa.
Kubeka's career started in 1957 when, at the age of 16, Miriam Makeba, having taken notice of her talent, invited her to join her Skylarks ensemble, which at that time also comprised the legendary Letta Mbulu and Mary Rabotaba. Kubeka was fortunate because when she entered the music industry she had musicians like Dorothy Masuka and the late Mariam Makeba to guide her.
In the 1960s, Kubeka accompanied musical giants Abdullah Ibrahim (then Dollar Brand) and Kippie Moeketsi in cabaret performances in the nightclubs of Hillbrow.
Kubeka also developed a career as an acclaimed actress in film, television and on stage. She featured in the films Hijack and The Line. Her stage roles include Des and Dawn Lindberg's King Afrika with Henry Cele and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with Judy Page.
Kubeka writes and arranges many of her own songs. She contributed the theme song for the sequel to the well-known documentary film What Happened to Mbuyisa?.
Kubeka has commanded huge world audiences, such as at the first Miss World Pageant to be held in South Africa in 1992 and at the opening ceremony of the All Africa Games in 1999. She has also performed for more intimate audiences, including former president Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II. Kubeka sings in many South African languages
