Zonke was born in KwaZakhele, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Her father, Vuyisile Dikana, was a drummer for a group called “Black Slave and the Flamingo” while her late step mother Anneline Malebo was a singer for a musical band known as Joy. She is an alumna of the University of the Free State where she graduated with a degree in Human Resource Management in 1997.
1996–2007: Early beginnings, Soulitary and Life, Love ‘n Music
During Zonke’s early years as a singer, Anneline Malebo introduced her to several artists including Ringo, Joe Nina and Deborah Fraser who she worked with either in writing or vocal capabilities. Zonke had her big break when she wrote a song titled “Africa, My Motherland” for (Germany)-based band Jazzkantine.The band later became known as Culture Clan after Zonke and rappers Mandla and Mzo.
In 2003, Culture Clan released an album titled Africa. The album was released in Germany, winning awards from the Channel O and Metro FM Music Awards.During her time in Germany, Zonke released her debut studio album Soulitary through Upper Street Records with distribution in Germany, Japan and Italy in 2004 and in 2007, she released her second album Life, Love ‘n Music through Kalawa Jazmee Records.
2008–13: Ina Ethe and Give and Take Live Edit
In June 2011, Zonke left Kalawa Jamzee for TMP Records and started recording Ina Ethe, her third studio album. Preceding the album’s release were two lead singles “Jik’Izinto” and “Feelings”. Ina Ethe was self-produced and was released through TMP Records to critical reviews.The album also did well commercially, going double platinum.
On 25 October 2013, Zonke recorded and released a live album through Sony Music Entertainment titled Give and Take Live at the Lyric Theatre, Goldreef City, Johannesburg.The album achieved gold status under two months of its release.Give and Take Live also won two category awards at the 20th South African Music Awards.
2014–present: Work of Heart Edit
Following the death of Zonke’s older sister Lulu Dikana,Zonke had started working on her fourth studio album titled Work of Heart by releasing “Reach It” and “Meet Me in My Dreams”, the album’s lead singles.In an interview granted to Katlego Mkhwanazi of The Mail & Guardian, Zonke revealed that the album was inspiried by everything that happened to her.The album contains 13 songs and was released on 11 September 2015 through Sony Music Entertainment to critical acclaim. Work of Heart was nominated at the “Best Female Album” and “Best African Pop Album” categories at the 15th Metro FM Music Awards. It also went on to be nominated in five categories at the 22nd South African Music Awards, winning one;and on 14 July 2016, it was certified platinum.
L.O.V.E was released in 2018 June, it’s a 9 track album featuring Kwesta Dakar on a song titled Soul to Keep. In April, 2018 Zonke released the lead single Tonight. Which had sold platinum and the album is now sitting at the gold status.