Hailing from Port Elizabeth, chart-topping singer Belinda Davids beat out almost 15 000 other hopefuls for the dream role of Whitney Houston in 2013. Since then, she’s gone on to achieve success across the pond with her vocal abilities: not only is she an acclaimed solo artist but her voice has also featured on tracks by The Temptations, Keri Hilson, Keyshia Cole, Monica and Johnny Gill.
Before she embarks on another whirlwind tour with The Greatest Love of All: The Whitney Houston Show, which opens in Cape Town on Wednesday 21 June, Belinda chatted to Cape {Town} Etc about why she now calls the Mother City home.
1 How does Cape Town influence your work?
I moved to Cape Town because it’s so beautiful and has a touch of European flair. I cannot wait to perform on the Cape stage when the show opens this month. Capetonians are so supportive and I believe they have a special connection with Whitney Houston as her music was quite popular here in the nineties. The fact that I can bring back the memories of Whitney to them is special and makes me very excited.
2 What do you love most about this city?
I’ve been travelling since I was 20 years old and living here reminds me of being in Europe. Plus, it’s just so pretty.
3 If your friend was visiting Cape Town for the first time, where would you take them?
A lot of people overseas have this idea of a completely black South Africa. We have so much culture – I mean, we have 11 official languages! Other than Nelson Mandela’s struggle, they don’t know much, so I would definitely take them to Robben Island to relive his story as well as up Table Mountain, for a safari and then for a wine tasting.
4 Describe the city in three words.
Beautiful, European, Table Mountain.
5 If you were to create a souvenir that represents Cape Town, what would it be or look like?
I think it would the faces of women – black, coloured, white – on Table Mountain. Although we have lots of diverse people in SA, I grew up only knowing the faces of these three and it represents Cape Town for me.
6 What’s your favourite Cape catchphrase?
‘Nee my broer, jy’s *@#$!’ – I always giggle at this.
7 Three Capetonians we should be following online?
Dancer Nathan Adriaanse, TV presenter and singer Rouchelle Liedemann, and actor and comedian Siv Ngesi.
Photography Courtesy images