Zuma lauds Chaka Chaka - Africa's first WEF Crystal Award winner
President Jacob Zuma has today, 26 January 2012, on behalf of all South Africans, congratulated Ms Yvonne Chaka Chaka on being the first African woman to receive the World Economic Forum's Crystal Award.
She received the award last night in Davos, Switzerland. The award was started in 1995 and is presented to distinguished artists who have used their respective talents to improve the state of the world. Some of the previous recipients include US musician extraordinaire Quincy Jones and award winning actor Richard Gere.
"In many respects, Yvonne Chaka Chaka has been a true ambassador of our country, its culture and people. We applaud the wonderful work she does promoting quality health care and other social development issues in the continent. We are immensely proud that the World Economic Forum has today recognised her in this way," said Zuma in Davos.
He said he was especially pleased that Chaka Chaka's work in the area of global health and issues affecting women and children, especially in Africa, had been afforded the worldwide recognition that it deserved.
"We hope that this award will encourage more people at home and abroad to work together with governments to address matters affecting especially women and children," said the President.
Source: The Presidency
