Rebecca Malope Net Worth and Biography

Rebecca Malope, also known as the “The African Queen of Gospel” is a South African gospel singer, with a net worth of $ 5 Million. Her music career spans more than three decades. She has sold at least 10 million albums worldwide, making her one of the best-selling gospel artists of all time. Most of the 36 albums she has released have reached multi-platinum status.

Bio Data

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Biography

Rebecca Malope was born in 1968 in Mpumalanga, South Africa.  At an early age, she was confined to a wheelchair after an illness; doctors believed she would be unable to walk on her own. As a child, she and her sisters sang hymns in their local church. Later, as a teen, she joined a gospel group which eventually led her to Johannesburg, where she was brought to the attention of producer Sizwe Zakho.

Malope began her musical career in 1984. At the age of 16, she and her sister Cynthia left their hometown and walked over 400 km to Johannesburg. On getting to Johannesburg, in 1985 she contested in the Shell Road to Fame television contest with the band she was with, but they were eliminated in the first round of the competition.

She however re-entered and won the competition in 1987 as a solo artist in the category of Female Vocalist with the gospel song “Shine On”, dedicated to political unrest during Apartheid in South Africa.

Career

Despite winning Shell Road to Fame, Malope struggled to find a record company. Finally, she was given a recording contract by MFM but was told that gospel music was off-limits. She was pushed to perform disco songs and compete with the biggest female artists at the time.

Her then Manager,  Sizwe Zako convinced the executives at MFM to include one gospel song on Malope’s debut album Sthembile Kuwe. The song was more well-received than the pop songs on the album. She continued to release commercially successful pop albums until 1991, she released her final pop album Saturday Nite. Like previous albums, she included three gospel songs. The album achieved double platinum status and Malope won Best Female Vocalist at the OKTV Awards.

In 1992, Malope released a full gospel album Rebecca Sings Gospel. The album was well received by music critics, media, and fans, and widened her fame. She was the first gospel artist whose songs were played along with mainstream music like pop and Afrikaans music. To this date, the album has sold over one million copies and is regarded as one of the best gospel albums of all time in South Africa.

Following the success of Rebecca Sings Gospel, in 1993 Ngiyekeleni was released, and followed the same success as her previous album. In 1994, she released Umoya Wam whose title track is known as Malope’s signature song. The album surpassed her previous records in terms of sales.

In 1996, she released Shwele Baba; it broke records at the time becoming the fastest-selling album in South Africa, selling 100 000 units within three weeks of release. Malope has released 36 albums in a musical career spanning more than 30 years.

Rebecca Malope Net Worth

Rebecca Malope is one of the richest artists in South Africa, with an estimated net worth of $5 million. With a music career spanning more than three decades, She has sold at least 10 million albums worldwide, making her one of the best-selling gospel artists of all time. Most of the 36 albums she has released have reached multi-platinum status.

Malope hosted her own syndicated television show, It’s Gospel Time, between 2004 and 2019. In 2013 she was one of the judges in Clash of Choirs South Africa. She is also the recipient of numerous awards and accolades.

Malope received an honorary doctorate from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the University of California for her contribution to the music industry. In 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa honored her with the Order of Ikhamanga (OIS), for her distinguished contribution to South African music.