• Just as my parents instilled in me the values of ubuntu, respect, perseverance and discipline, I want to pass on to my children values that can help them live their lives.”- Yvonne Chaka Chaka, FNB ambassador.
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KEEP ON MOVING.

By Yvonne Chaka Chaka

“Just as my parents instilled in me the values of ubuntu, respect, perseverance and discipline, I want to pass on to my children values that can help them live their lives.”

Parents play an important role in instilling values in their children

I was born in Soweto 41 years ago, the daughter of a driver and a domestic worker. I loved my father – he was an amazing man. He loved playing with me; he would piggyback me until I was about five years old. He played a huge role in my life.

Every Saturday morning he would wake up early, clean the kitchen, make a fire and then put breakfast on the table. He died when I was at a young age – I was 11. I often say I wish my father was here to hear me sing and see the things I have achieved.

When he passed away, it left a vacuum in my life. But my mother was really a tower of strength to all three girls – she closed that gap. As a single parent, she needed to be both mother and father. My mother was very strict with us three girls. If she was not as strict as that, I wouldn’t be where I am today. As young school girls, she taught us that we needed to work hard.

I know what it is like to be poor. I was poor when we grew up but I was a happy child. We never slept without food even if my mother had to bring home her lunch for us to eat.

We are a close-knit family – even today. If I have to go away I know that my middle sister Refilwe who is a teacher will be there to help. My eldest sister Doreen, who is a nurse, lives in London.

My mother taught me that charity begins at home: Respect yourself if you want others to respect you. And because of that, I think you need to be true to yourself. When I pray, I am a selfish prayer – I first ask for strength for myself and then I pray for my family, my friends, our leaders.

I don’t drink, I don’t smoke and that is the kind of life I have chosen for myself. I have friends who smoke and drink and I love and respect them for their choices. I try not to judge people – its God’s job to judge.

I am the kind of person who is easily hurt and therefore I go out of my way not to hurt others. I used to be very hard and hold grudges but a friend taught me that you need to deal with it and let it go.

I used to envy people – now I live the life I want to lead. I think I am afraid of failure and so I have never acted like I have it all – I know that things can change. I have never acted as if I am more important than someone else – tomorrow all that can change. If I fall today, people will help me up because I have never behaved as if I am better than them.

Life is so unpredictable but I believe God has a vision for me. I wanted – and my mother wanted me – to be a lawyer. She worked very hard but I knew that if I was going to study further, I would have to get a scholarship. I knew I wanted to be a somebody in life.

When I started to sing, I saw it as a career. I knew that I could achieve whatever I wanted. Even then, I would go on the road or to concerts with my UNISA study books in my bag – trying to do assignments that were due and catching up on my reading. Even when I failed, I persisted.

My parents taught me a sense of ubuntu – to care about others. Life has been very good. I’m not rich but I am happy and content with what I have achieved. I never live beyond my means. What you see is what you get. Even though I have given a lot of my time through performances for charity, God has provided.

Values are an important part of my life. Just as my parents instilled in me the values of ubuntu, respect, perseverance and discipline, I want to pass on to my children values that can help them live their lives.
I am who I am today because of those values. I want to help where I can and leave an impact on people’s lives just as so many people have left an impact on mine.

Yvonne Chaka Chaka is an ambassador for First National Bank, funders of the Heartlines campaign that seeks to get South African talking about values. Watch the films on SABC 2 at 8pm on Sundays.

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