Jani Allan - Early Life

Early Life

Allan was born the daughter of an Italian expeditionary and a Rhodesian socialite. She was adopted by a wealthy British-South African couple, John and Janet Fry at age one month old. The family briefly lived in England but her Scottish father was advised by doctors to move to a warmer climate. Subsequenly Allan was brought up in the Johannesburg suburb of Bryanston and attended Roedean School. John Fry died when Allan was 10 years old. She is a trained classical pianist and recorded a televised piano concerto as a child, and made her debut with Johannesburg symphony orchestra at the age of 10. Later she graduated in fine art and attained an honours degree in English literature at the University of the Witwatersrand.

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