South African icon and treasure, PJ Powers, has mesmerized South Africa and the world for over 40 years and because of that she may also have one of the most awesome Wikipedia pages.
With a career that has spanned more than 40 years, icon PJ Powers ‘Thandeka’ has truly made a remarkable and lasting impact on South Africa, Africa and the world. Voted one of the top ten people brands in South Africa in 2011, PJ Powers is living her dreams everyday as a musician, author, writer, story-teller, philanthropist, speaker and creative.
Her Wikipedia page outlines all her achievements, and explains where she has come from and how her career has grown.
“The year 1988 saw P.J. banned from radio and TV for a year by the apartheid government for her performance at a charity concert for war orphans in Zimbabwe, along with Miriam Makebaand Harry Belafonte. She was encouraged to continue her singing by Nelson Mandela, who sent her an encouraging letter from Victor Verster Prison in Cape Town.
In 1995, her recording of the Rugby World Cup official song featuring Ladysmith Black Mambazo, “World in Union”, reached no. 47 on the UK Singles Chart. She performed the song live at the opening of the 1995 Rugby World Cup in Cape Town for a worldwide television audience.
In the ’90s, her music took on a more Afro-pop focus, finding a receptive audience in the black market, who gave her the nickname, “Thandeka” — “the loved one”.
Some of her biggest hits like “Feel So Strong” (a 1983 duet with Steve Kekana) she wrote herself, as well as “You’re So Good to Me” (1982), “There is an Answer” (1986) and “Home to Africa” (1985). One of her biggest hits (with Hotline) was “Jabulani”, which was written by Hotline’s bass guitarist, George Van Dyk, who later went on to have his own band called Wozani.”
But it’s the final part of her Wikipedia page that is really something to be celebrated. Powers has shared the stage with some amazing artists and performed for some incredibly influential people. She really is a South African legend!
“P.J. has shared the stage with Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading, Hugh Masekela, Divine Divas, Lord Richard Attenborough, Richard E. Grant, Sibongile Khumalo, Janet Suzman and other big names. P.J. sang for Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
She sang at the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela and at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. She collaborated with Vicky Sampson, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and M’du Masilela for the music video flighted at the United Nations Assembly in Washington, D.C. and in Greece. P.J. also wrote an 85th birthday song for Mandela, which she sang for him and guests including Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey at his party in 2003.
In 2009, Powers’ recording of “World In Union” was featured in the Academy Award-nominated film, Invictus.
AND EVEN TODAY HER MUSIC IS STILL PLAYED ON RADIOS.”
In the last 3 years, Powers has released yet another chart-topping album, Destiny, as well as a best-selling biography, Here I Am and been acclaimed as one of Africa’s biggest artists. This, however, is not the end, she has great things planned for the future.
PJ Powers – Thandeka is a force to be reckoned with and one of Africa’s greatest treasures.
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