South African artist Yolanda Y’awa has just left on her Solo Debut tour of Europe, starting in Germany where she has been selected as the only South African artist to perform at Berlin’s music showcase ‘Popkomm’.
‘I received a phone call literally two weeks back,’ says this Gugelethu babe, ‘That was definitely the highlight of my career thus far!’Although Miss Y’awa has toured internationally in the past as a band member of Coda, Tucan Tucan and others, this will be the first time she will be performing songs on tour from her debut solo album.
The album, aptly named ‘My Journey, My CrossOva’, echoes much of Yolanda Y’awa’s personal journey and is a mix of Afro-contemporary jazz, afro-pop, reggae and Latin.Yolanda claims she drew inspiration from her love for her children, the beauty of nature and ‘the serenity of the presence of life in Africa’.
‘I always remind myself that I have a lot to be grateful for and to look forward to,’ says Yolanda about her career.‘This cannot always be part of our plan but if the universe permits it, then whatever happens is part of destiny.’
At the recent event at Capello (thrown in order to help raise funds for the artist’s tour) Yolanda won the audience over through a combination of her charming African melodies, uninhibited personality and original sense of style. Yolanda wore her own designs – all unique pieces that show a pride in both the traditional and the contemporary -complete with signature netting-fabric scarf.
As well as having won a number of prizes and awards for her various talents, this charismatic character also possesses a heart of gold: her work with charitable organisations such as Amy Biehl Foundation and the SA Ubuntu Business Network is evidence of that. I see no reason why anyone would want to see this passionate young lady do anything less than succeed, and I wish her the best of luck on her European tour!
Y’awa’s next fundraising show will be at On Broadway Theatre from the 1st to the 3rd September and tickets are R70 .On sale now at Computicket or On Broadway, Tel 021 424 1194 or www.onbroadway.com
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