Born in 1968 in Lekazi, near Nelspruit in Mpumalanga Province, Rebecca Malope had a challenging childhood. Raised in a poverty-stricken home, her early life was marked by adversity. At one point, she was confined to a wheelchair due to illness, and doctors believed she would never walk again. Given her family’s financial struggles, seeking a second opinion was not an option. However, Rebecca defied the odds and, through divine intervention, eventually regained her ability to walk.Growing up in a less privileged family, Rebecca Malope learned the importance of being a breadwinner from a very young age. At just 18, she and her sister, Cynthia Malope, would embark on long journeys by foot from Mpumalanga to the Johannesburg township of Evaton in search of odd jobs to make ends meet.
Rebecca Malope’s rise to fame began in 1985 when she entered the television contest “Shell Road To Fame” with her band, although they were eliminated in the first round. The following year, she returned as a solo artist, and, under the mentorship of Sizwe Zako, she won the competition in the Female Vocalist category.
This victory marked the beginning of her musical career, and she signed a record deal with Sizwe Zako as her producer and Peter Tiadi as her manager. Together, they worked on her breakthrough pop album, “Sthembike Kuwe.” Since then, Dr. Rebecca Malope has consistently produced chart-topping hits and become a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.Ezoic
In recognition of her significant contributions to the music industry, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of California. Dr. Rebecca Malope’s life journey and music continue to inspire and uplift her fans and listeners.