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Sunday Times 20/03/05 01 01st2003main 13 All Round 19/03/05 05:03:32

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Sunday Times 13March 20 20 0 5 SOCIAL SCENE

Dancingshoescharmdiners

Take a bow baby, eishdo you deserve it!

AHAND-PICKED f ewmade it onto the guestlist of Yvonne ChakaChaka’s 40th birthday

party on Friday night.So determined was Africa’s

princess of pop to party up astorm that she turned down aninvitation to perform for QueenElizabeth in London that night.

She left only yesterday forthe show today at the RoyalFestival Hall — without the UKmonarch.

But on Friday night,surrounded by her nearest anddearest — including hermother, Sophie Machaka —Chaka Chaka looked not a dayolder than her 40 years as sheshared the celebration with herson Themba, who turns 21 nextwe e k .

At the Indaba Hotel north ofJozi, she emerged from aGerman sedan showing off hercurvy figure in a body-huggingpink mermaid dress. It wasmade by up-and-coming Joburgdesigner Sicelo Ntshalintshaliwho said he used differentkinds and shades of silk tomake the garment, in four days.

MC Bob Mabena had guestsin stitches. “Is Gwen [Gill]here? I am tired of trying toimpress that woman, I just wantyou to know that this is me,that’s how I am coming out,” hedeclared, referring to his baby-blue suit, pink shirt and tie.

My judgment, as Gwen’sstand-in this week? Not bad,considering it was only thesecond time I had spotted UncleBob in that su i t .

Praise was heaped on ChakaChaka. In a recorded messageplayed on two big screenseither side of the stage,Archbishop Desmond Tutu saidhe could say whatever he likedbecause he couldn’t be chargedwith sexual harassment at hisage. “Wow! Isn’t she gorgeous.Ngoana ke seponono. You giveso much of yourself to others. . . You are like good wine.”

Another recorded messagewas from former PresidentNelson Mandela who said

Chaka Chaka had played a rolein the liberation struggle.

He called her a world-classperformer who was originaland creative and who boastedconsummate showmanship.

Mandela added that ChakaChaka’s impersonation of anold man (meaning himself)spoke volumes of her sense ofhumour.

Deputy President JacobZuma (aka Jay-Zee), whoMabena introduced as “SouthAfrica’s next President” to wildapplause, presented thebirthday girl with a framedcollection of colourfultraditional Zulu beadedaccessories.

Some speakers, such asGloria Mthombeni, her nurseryschool teacher who has knownher since she was four, took usback to the beginning of ChakaChaka’s life.

Mthombeni , who at 73 st i l lworks at the nursery school,said Chaka Chaka filled herwith pride as she never forgetsher roots, which are in

Dobsonville, Soweto.Miriam Makeba, who

complained of a sore hip, is awoman in love. She jokinglycalled her first great-grandson,who was her partner for thenight, “my husband”.

The close friendship betweenMakeba and Chaka Chaka goesfar back. The latter’s childrencall Makeba “grandmother”and she sometimes cooks forthem while Chaka Chaka toursthe world.

When Makeba turned 60 shehosted her party at ChakaChaka’s place.

Hubby Tiny Mhinga in a bluesuit and pink shirt warmedmany hearts when he declaredhis undying love and supportfor his famous wife.

In her speech, Chaka Chakapaid tribute to the late popqueen Brenda Fassie. “I wishher soul rests in peace. She wasa great person and I don’t havethe voice she had. She wastaken advantage of . . . ”

Her pledge for life after 40 isto grow as a businesswoman

deluxe pregnant Zulu PrincessNtandoyesizwe and husbandPrince Oupa Moiloa, and alsopregnant Basetsana Kumaloand husband Romeo, whorefuses to talk about what hewears nowadays.

His sister-in-law JohannaMukoki, who’s just had hersecond baby, made a rareappearance. Also there were5FM DJ Gareth Cliff, Elle editor

Jacqui Chemaly, Vodacom execMthobi Tyamzashe, EskomCEO Thulani Gcabashe, ANCYouth League president FikileMbalula, the Arch’s wife, LeahTutu, and YFM DJ and TVpresenter Sbu Leope, sportingthe night’s most bling-blingstylish shades. Winnie Madiki-zela-Mandela was a no-show.

Food: 5/10 — Fo r g e tt ab l e ,but impressive presentation.

We never got to taste thegigantic kaleidoscope cake.

Flowers: 3/10 —Daisies atthe base of a wax centrepiece.

Vibe: 8.5/10 — Party moodwith lots of sentiment.

MC: 9/10 — Bob Mabenashould consider stand-upcomedy as a full-time job.

Africa’s queenof pop YvonneChaka Chakaturns 40 instyle, writesLe s l eyM ofo ke n g

and to acquire more wealth.The menu failed to impress.

For starters, spinach andricotta cannelloni, main coursea duo of supreme of beef filletand chicken breast with rootveggies, and for dessert, a lightmeringue, berries and cream. Abit uninspiring — Indaba Hotelcould have done better.

Other guests included royalcouple and social butterflies

GILLIAN ANSTEY

SHOES on a table havealways been regarded asbad luck, let alone badtaste, but those that

adorned the tables at theJoburg Civic Theatre onTuesday set the tone for a nightwith a difference.

First, they were pink, wornballet shoes, placed amongbright pink roses. Others we r estrung from ribbons.

Second, the tables werebackstage at the Joburg CivicTheatre. And, third, we wereseated facing the set of theballet The Nutcracker.

It was a fundraiser for the SABallet Theatre and the firstfunction I have been to whereguests were implored to starteating because everyone was soengrossed in the performance.

Guests included AngloAmerican’s Tony Trahar andhis wife, Trish; legal tax whizProfessor Michael Katz and hiswife Babette; Michael de Pinnaof Yebo Gogo ad fame; businessconsultant Bontle Mpakanyane;hotshot divorce lawyer BillyGundelfinger and his wifeMichelle; Liberty Life’s HyltonAppelbaum and his wifeWendy; Lotto spokesmanSershan Naidoo; PR PennyStein; socialite and publicistEdith Venter; charming do-gooder Ivan May of the CowParade; and former dancer andchoreographer-turned roseseller Esther Nasser.

And of course, the Civic’sdevoted board chairman, Ca sCoovadia, otherwise known asMD of the Banking Council.

The best lookers wereundoubtedly the femaledancers in their evening gowns,but the most striking outfit wasworn by the ballet company’sexpert fundraiser —R20-million to date — AnnzieHancock. Made of Thai silkshe’d bought a few years back,it comprised a mauve shortjacket and bright greentrousers, each trimmed withsnippets of the other colour.

Yet the biggest surprise ofthe evening was the guestspeaker, Tito Mboweni,governor of the Reserve Bank.

He delighted everyone bysaying when he was part of thegovernment from 1994 to 1998, ithad made two mistakes —stopping funding the orchestraand the ballet company.

Food: 4/10 — Unusual veggieterrine as starters, followed bykingklip, but full marks for thegranadilla crème brulee.

Flowers: 9/10 — Exquisitewith that added balletic touch.

MC: 8/10 — Witty Ian vonMemerty made us laugh andlater burst into resonant song.

Vibe: 5/10 — Loved thesetting and the dance but therewere a tad too many speechesand the evening ended abruptly.

DOUBLE ACT: Yvonne Chaka Chaka and her son Themba celebrate their birthdays in style. MC Bob Mabena (right) takes to the floor with the guest of honour Pictures: MUNTU VILAKAZI

SPECIAL GUEST: Deputy President Jacob Zuma heaps praise and giftson the birthday girl

SOUL MATES: Chaka Chaka’s friendship with SA legend MiriamMakeba goes back many years

SUPPORTING ACT: Chaka Chaka’s husband, Tiny Mhinga, welcomesMakeba to his wife’s bash at the Indaba Hotel

Gwen Gill is on leave

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