Thomas Chauke - 7 Interesting Facts Previously Unknown About Him

Thomas Chauke is a highly respected and decorated South African Xitsonga musician. He has been active on the music scene for almost four decades and doesn’t seem like he is retiring anytime soon.

The South African traditional musician is a recipient of several awards that cut across the South African music industry, education, and national awards. His style of music endears him to many, earning him a place in the history of Xitsonga traditional music.

His achievement on the music scene is nothing short of great. He has replicated the same feat on the homefront, rising his children to walk in his shoes.

Here are intriguing facts you don’t know about him.

Who Is He?

He was born Thomas Hasani Chauke on 4th February 1952 in Salema Village, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The 72 year old drops out of school at an early age and answers the call to be a musician.

After dropping out, he worked at a flower company in Heidelberg, Gauteng, before moving to Alexandra in 1971. While there, he was fixing swimming pools and tennis courts in neighboring Santon. It was here that he came in contact with his uncle Daniel who introduced him to mbaqanga music. He was taught how to play the Tsonga guitar.

The Xitsonga traditional musician returned to Salema in 1978 and fixed radio sets. His professional career as a recording artist started in 1980 at Gramophone Records Company (GRC).

7 Amazing Facts About Thomas Chauke

Thomas Chauke and His 4 Wives (Image Source)

7. He Started A Music Band With 13 Singers

The 72 year old started a band with 13 singers in the late 1970s. Months later, 8 members of the band left, and only 5 remained. In realizing their recording dream, they started performing in schools to raise money. The money was to enable them to go to Johannesburg to push their recording dreams.

Chauke penned down a recording deal with Gramophone Records Company (GRC) where his music was branded Nyoresh. He was in need of a better deal, so, he got one at Wea Records. The deal allowed him to change his music from Nyoresh to Shimatsatsa (a beautiful girl).

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6. Recorded His Debut Album In 1981

After his move to Wea Records, the Saselemani-born musician records his debut album in 1981. It was titled ‘Shimatsatsa no.1’ under Thomas Chauke and Shinyori Sisters.

5. He Is A Polygamist

The Xitsonga musician married 5 women and fathered 23 children and 12 grandchildren. But he is living with 4 of them now.

Other reports say he has 4 wives, 20 children, and 21 grandchildren. The wives are; Joyce, Lucia, Ethel, and Eve.

He walks down the aisle with his first wife Joyce, in 1975. When he met her, she doesn’t know how to sing, so he coached her to become part of the group.

Six years later, he met his second wife Lucia in a nearby village. He talked with Joyce about his decision to take a second wife. Though she wasn’t comfortable at the onset, things later became normal.

He did a similar thing before marrying Ethel and Eve. More so, the 5th woman he married left the marriage to pursue a solo musical career.

His four wives (Shinyiro Sisters) alongside him make up the 5 out of 13 members of his band that are still active.

4. Fluent In Most South African Languages

Tsonga is his mother’s tongue, but that’s not exclusive. He speaks almost all South African official languages fluently. He learns to speak the languages while traveling to different parts of the country.

Although he is fluent in these languages, he prefers to write his music in Tsonga, because he expresses himself better. He said writing in his mother tongue is a way of preserving his culture for many generations to come.

3. He Still Lives On The Property Where He Was Raised

The village of Salema in Giyani, Limpopo is where the Tosnger singer was raised. Although he is famous, he chooses to remind in his village. In fact, he still maintains the same house where he grew up.

However, the house has been given a facelift, from the hut he once lived with his parents, to a two-story mansion. There is a wire fence and a gate.

He lives there with his 4 wives, children, and grandchildren.

2. His Children Have Taken A Page Off His Book

The Salema-born Tsonger singer molds his children into musicians. More so, two of them seem to be up and running. His daughter Conny has released 10 albums that have achieved Gold status.

This is followed by his son Themba who has 5 albums, and three have achieved Gold status. Likewise, his youngest son Hammy has 5 albums.

1. The South African Government Awarded Him With The Order of Ikhamanga In Silver

The 68 year old is a recipient of The Order of Ikhamanga in Silver. He was awarded for his excellent contribution to the development and promotion of Xitsonga traditional in the country. His prolific songwriting and performances have put Xitsonga music at the forefront.

Other awards he received include;

Lifetime Achievement Award
Greatest Xitsonga Musician of Our Time
South African Music Awards (16 Times)
MTN SAMA 19 Lifetime Achievement Award
Honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree, African languages, University of Venda

Over the course of his musical career, he has received 1 diamond disc, 1 double gold disc, 6 platinum disc, 11 double platinum and 9 triple platinum discs.