Dorothy Masuka was a professional jazz singer and songwriter affectionately known as Auntie Dot. She rose to fame in the 1950s and she considers herself more like a politician than a musician. She fought alongside national leaders who initiated the struggle to dislodge colonials through her music. Although she pa s sed away on February 23rd February 2019, she is still regarded as one of the most dignified musicians who helped the cause of her independence in Africa.
Early Life and Education Of Dorothy Masuka
Masuka was born on September 3, 1935, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia in the past) and pa s sed away on 23 February 2019. She was Zimbabwean by nationality and belongs to the black ethnicity. She was the fourth of seven children in the family. Her mother was Zulu and her father was a Zambian hotel chef.
Her family moved to South Africa when she was twelve due to her health problems. There she attended St. Thomas Catholic Boarding School, which was deemed well by the standard of education. She was given a good platform to perform at the school events.
Dorothy Masuka's Career
Her parents were against her musical career. However, she didn't leave her journey to her musical career. At the age of 15, she escaped from school and determined her career as a musician. She went to Durban and joined Philemon Magoti's band, African Ink Spots.
A record company invited her for the auditions, while she was performing with the band. She recorded her first hit song, Hamba Notsokolo in the early 1950s. Her song became more popular and was her first successful hit. Soon after, she attended a tour to South Africa with The Harlem Swingsters and Dolly Rathebe.
Masuka has shared the stage with the stage with Mahotella Queens in London. She made her performances numerous times during the Harare Winter Jazz Festivals. She won the National Arts Merit Awards as a guest performer in February 2014.
Masuka has released several albums throughout her career. Some of the successful albums were Pata Pata, Magnummede, Mzilikazi, The Definite Collection, and Lendaba. She has won Zimbabwe Achievers Awards in 2015 and has also won Life Outstanding Contribution Award.
Dorothy Masuka's Net Worth
There is no information about her net worth before she pa s sed away in the media. Similarly, her earnings also have not been published by ay tabloids.
However, the average earnings of a jazz singer is around $47.59 per hour and likewise, politicians earn around she also earned a decent salary from her job as a politician.
Dorothy Masuka's Personal Life and Affairs
Masuka pa s sed away at the age of 83. She was widely known for her singing talent. She lived in Yeoville, Johannesburg, South Africa with her grandchildren.
Apart from being a professional musician, Masuka was also an actor. She has featured in the movie, Nothing for Mahala in 2013. She has served as a music teacher and often travels to Boston and Ma s sachusetts. She gained ma s sive popularity from her song named Gona Ramachingura.
Masuka traveled to Malawi and Tanzania in 1961 and became the champion of the independence cause in Africa through her musical performances.
Despite her ma s sive popularity, she has kept her personal life low profile. Her husband and two sons were killed for being the militant wing.
Read More: Country Singer Miranda Lambert Is Married-Learn Few Interesting Things About Her Husband
by ab-niranjan, 24 Apr, 2017
