INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS

President Jacob Zuma. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

President Jacob Zuma on Thursday congratulated performer Yvonne Chaka Chaka on being the first African woman to receive the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Crystal Award.

“We applaud the wonderful work she does promoting quality health care and other social development issues in the continent,” Zuma said in a statement.

“We are immensely proud that the World Economic Forum has... recognised her in this way,” said Zuma, who is attending the forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The award is for artists who improve the world through their work. Zuma said he was especially pleased that Chaka Chaka's work in global health and issues affecting women and children, especially in Africa, had been afforded recognition.

“We hope that this award will encourage more people at home and abroad to work together with governments to address matters affecting especially women and children.”

Chaka Chaka, a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations' Roll Back Malaria Partnership, was presented with the award at the opening ceremony of the forum's annual meeting on Wednesday, the World Health Organisation said.

“For many years Yvonne has used her voice to draw attention to the causes that will change the lives of millions, from ending apartheid to improving maternal and child health,” Hilde Schwab, co-founder of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, who presented the award, said in a statement.

“Yvonne has clearly understood her opportunities to do good and the access her powerful voice allows, through both song and conversation, to reach and influence those who can act,” she said.

Previous winners of the award include actor Richard Gere, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, producer, composer and musician Quincy Jones, and singer Youssou N'Dour.

Chaka Chaka, who hails from Dobsonville, south-west of Johannesburg, has produced over 20 albums, with hits such as “Umqombothi”, and “Thank You Mr DJ”.

She became involved in the malaria campaign after one of her back-up singers, Phumzile Ntuli, died of malaria in 2004. Chaka Chaka is the United Nations Childrens' Fund goodwill ambassador for malaria in Africa. - Sapa