// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Penny Penny a good singer? She's a cent-ral talent.
Penny Penny | |
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| Born | Eric Kulani Giyani Nkovani 1962 (age 63–64) |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
Penny Penny | |
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| Member of the National Assembly of South Africa | |
| Assumed office 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Party | uMkhonto weSizwe Party |
Eric Kulani Giyani Nkovani or Gezani Kobane (born 1962), better known by his stage names Penny Penny and Papa Penny is a South African musician and politician,[1] known affectionately as the "Shangaan Disco King" for the musical style he helped popularise.[2]
Biography
[edit]He was the youngest of 68 children from a local traditional Surgeon/ doctor with 25 wives. His family was poor, meaning he received no education, but he soon became known for his dancing and was nicknamed Penny.[1] Aged 19, he worked on a West Driefontein goldmine near Carletonville, and soon left to escape the region's poor working conditions, although he won several breakdancing trophies before his departure.[3] His breakthrough came with the recording and release of his 1994 debut album Shaka Bundu, which was recorded in a week using little gear but went on to sell 250,000 copies in the country.[4] The music features Tsonga (or Shangaan) disco sound, which emerged in Penny's native Tsonga culture,[5] fused with contemporary house music from the United States.[6] Unusually, the songs on the album were recorded in the Tsonga or Xitsonga language,[5] or more specifically its Limpopo-region dialect Xihlanganu, one of the least-heard languages in South Africa. This was a conscious choice on behalf of Penny, who wanted to introduce his language "to the world."[7] He stayed in Peta Teanet 's mansion in Tzaneen for 3 months while he was being taught music by the King of Disco Peta Teanet.
Career
[edit]He recorded several further albums, including Laphinda Shangaan (1997) and Makanjta Jive (1998), both of which outsold Shaka Bundu,[3] although none of his albums were distributed outside of South Africa, and he soon drifted into obscurity as the country's music trends moved on.[7] Shaka Bundu was re-released worldwide by Awesome Tapes From Africa, which helped renew his musical popularity.[8] His newfound popularity spread to the clubs of Los Angeles.[9] In 2017, he began creating music in a style he called "heavy gum," after growing tired of being referred to as the "Shangaan Disco King". He said: "I never labelled myself as Shangaan Disco King, other people did. I am tired of people knowing me only because of my language. Music is more than the language you speak." His first single in the style was "Goldie Bone."[2]
As a politician, Penny worked in the African National Congress (ANC) as a council member.[7] He entered a publicised long-running spat with a chief based in Giyani over an initiative for free water, explaining that he "entered into a partnership with a local farmer to help provide water to the community but was apparently stopped from implementing the plan by the chief."[10]
Since 2017, he also stars in his own reality series Penny Ahee on Mzansi Magic,[11] which was commissioned after a successful appearance as a judge on Clash of the Choirs.[12]
Penny Penny is married and has 25 children, with 23 of them from previous relationships.[13]
In 2024, Penny left the ANC to join uMkhonto weSizwe (MKP),[14] and was elected as a member of the National Assembly in the 2024 South African general election.
Penny resigned from MKP in May 2026, citing infighting and attacks from within the party.[15] He joined the Afrika Mayibuye Movement shortly after.[16]
Discography
[edit]- Shaka Bundu (1994)
- Yogo Yogo (1996)
- Makajanta Jive (1997)
- La Phinda Ishangaane (1997)
- "Juri Juri" (1998)
- Bum Bum (1999)
- Viyana Viyana (2000)[17]
- The King of Tamakhwaya 1 (2001)
- The King of Tamakhwaya 2 (2002)
- The King vs the General (2009, collaborated with General Muzka)
- Pachi (2024)
References
[edit]- 1 2 Browne, David (4 November 2013). "Is Penny Penny the Next Rodriguez?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- 1 2 "Penny Penny on creating a new music genre with first single, Goldie Bone". Times Live. 23 October 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- 1 2 Mojapelo, Max (2009). Beyond Memory: Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music. African Minds. p. 147. ISBN 978-1920299286. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ↑ "Awesome Tapes From Africa to reissue album by South African house legend Penny Penny". FACT. 13 September 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- 1 2 Miles, Milo (6 February 2014). "Before He Joined Congress, A South African Janitor's Disco Past". NPR. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ↑ Spice, Anton (18 September 2013). "Awesome Tapes From Africa to reissue anthemic South African house artist Penny Penny". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- 1 2 3 Street, Andrew P (29 May 2014). "Penny Penny: back in currency". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ↑ Chauke, Orlando (23 September 2013). "Penny Penny's star to rise again". Review Online. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ↑ "South African pop star Penny Penny reborn in clubs of LA". BBC. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ↑ Zeeman, Kyle. "Penny Penny and Limpopo chief in spat over 'free water'". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ↑ Daylie, Qhama (12 January 2017). "Penny Penny hits out at English backlash". News24. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ↑ Mojalefa, Kekeletso. "Penny Penny Excited About Reality Show". Daily Sun. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ↑ "Child no. 68 Penny Penny has 25 children of his own". Citizen. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ↑ Matlala, Alex Japho (15 May 2024). "Papa Penny Penny ditches ANC for MK party". The Citizen. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- ↑ Malatji, Ngwako (15 May 2026). "Africa Daily - Penny Penny resigns from MK Party Over "Betrayal and Vilification" -". Africa Daily. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- ↑ Majadibodu, Simon. "Papa Penny joins Floyd Shivambu's Afrika Mayibuye Movement". IOL. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
- ↑ "Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
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