PJ Powers
Encyclopedia
Penelope Jane Dunlop also known as PJ Powers or Thandeka (born 16 July 1960) has enjoyed a highly successful musical career in South Africa spanning more than 15 years. P.J. Powers has recorded 15 albums and is well known for her UK chart hit "World In Union" (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo
) in 1995.
, KwaZulu-Natal
. She then formed the group Gymslip, along with her brother prior to joining the all-girl group called Pantha as front singer when it was formed in 1979. She later became the lead singer for the rock band Hotline, which formed in Johannesburg
in 1980. The band changed their style to afro-rock in 1983. Hotline disbanded in 1987. PJ Powers then started her solo career.
, together with Miriam Makeba
and 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, she had a hit on the UK charts, together with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, with the song World in Union which she sang at the opening of the Rugby World Cup
in Cape Town for an audience of millions from around the world.
In the '90s her music took on a more Afro-pop focus, finding a receptive audience in the black market, and she took on the nickname Thandeka, "the loved one".
Some of her biggest hits like Feel so strong she wrote herself, together with You're so good to me, There is an answer, and Home to Africa, reflecting her patriotism. One of her biggest hits (with Hotline) was "Jabulani" - written by Hotline band member, bass guitarist George van Dyk. PJ 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. PJ 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
. PJ 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. PJ 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's song, World In Union was featured in the Academy Award-nominated film, Invictus (film)
.
Powers has been extensively involved with the Reach For a Dream Foundation, as well as the Hamlet Foundation. She was commissioned by the President's office to write and perform a song for the Children's Rights Commission.
In 2004 she was voted 93rd in the Top 100 Great South Africans
.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group from South Africa that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland and have won multiple awards, including three Grammy Awards...
) in 1995.
Early life and career
Penelope was born in DurbanDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
. She then formed the group Gymslip, along with her brother prior to joining the all-girl group called Pantha as front singer when it was formed in 1979. She later became the lead singer for the rock band Hotline, which formed in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
in 1980. The band changed their style to afro-rock in 1983. Hotline disbanded in 1987. PJ Powers then started her solo career.
Solo career
1988 saw PJ banned from radio and TV for a year by the apartheid government for her performance at a charity concert for war orphans in ZimbabweZimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, together with Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba
Miriam Makeba , nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award winning South African singer and civil rights activist....
and Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
. She was encouraged to continue her singing by Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, who sent her an encouraging letter from Victor Verster Prison in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
In 1995, she had a hit on the UK charts, together with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, with the song World in Union which she sang at the opening of the Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
in Cape Town for an audience of millions from around the world.
In the '90s her music took on a more Afro-pop focus, finding a receptive audience in the black market, and she took on the nickname Thandeka, "the loved one".
Some of her biggest hits like Feel so strong she wrote herself, together with You're so good to me, There is an answer, and Home to Africa, reflecting her patriotism. One of her biggest hits (with Hotline) was "Jabulani" - written by Hotline band member, bass guitarist George van Dyk. PJ has shared the stage with Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
, Joan Armatrading
Joan Armatrading
Joan Anita Barbara Armatrading, MBE is a British singer, songwriter and guitarist. Armatrading is a three-time Grammy Award-nominee and has been nominated twice for BRIT Awards as Best Female Artist...
, Hugh Masekela
Hugh Masekela
Hugh Ramopolo Masekela is a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer.-Early life:Masekela was born in Kwa-Guqa Township, Witbank, South Africa. He began singing and playing piano as a child...
, Divine Divas, Lord Richard Attenborough
Richard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
, Richard E. Grant
Richard E. Grant
Richard E. Grant is a Swaziland-born British actor, screenwriter and director. His most notable role came in the film Withnail and I. He holds dual British and Swazi citizenship.-Early life:...
, Sibongile Khumalo
Sibongile Khumalo
Sibongile Khumalo is a South African singer.-Biography:Sibongile Khumalo was born in Soweto and guided by her father, Khabi Mngoma, a professor of music, where she studied violin, singing, drama and dance. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of Zululand and BA Honors...
, Janet Suzman
Janet Suzman
Dame Janet Suzman, DBE is a South African-born-British actress and director.-Early life:Janet Suzman was born in Johannesburg to a Jewish family, the daughter of Betty and Saul Suzman, a wealthy importer of tobacco....
and other big names. PJ sang for Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
of the United Kingdom, King Juan Carlos
Juan Carlos I of Spain
Juan Carlos I |Italy]]) is the reigning King of Spain.On 22 November 1975, two days after the death of General Francisco Franco, Juan Carlos was designated king according to the law of succession promulgated by Franco. Spain had no monarch for 38 years in 1969 when Franco named Juan Carlos as the...
of Spain and Queen Beatrix
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
of the Netherlands. She sang at the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela and at the 1995 Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
. PJ collaborated with Vicky Sampson, Yvonne Chaka Chaka
Yvonne Chaka Chaka
Yvonne Chaka Chaka is a South African singer.Dubbed the "Princess of Africa", Chaka Chaka has been at the forefront of South African popular music for 20 years...
and M'du Masilela
M'du Masilela
M'du Masilela aka 'The Godfather', aka ' Chomi Yabana' is a living legend in the music industry in South Africa. He is popularly known for the Kwaito music genre. Born in Zola South in 1970, M'du began his music aspirations on his grandmother's piano. As a young man in school, M'du created several...
for the music video flighted at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Assembly in Washington, D.C. and in Greece. PJ also wrote an 85th birthday song for Mandela, which she sang for him and guests including Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
at his party in 2003. In 2009 Powers's song, World In Union was featured in the Academy Award-nominated film, Invictus (film)
Invictus (film)
Invictus is a 2009 biographical sports drama film directed by Clint Eastwood starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.The story is based on the John Carlin book Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation about the events in South Africa before and during the 1995 Rugby World...
.
Honors and awards
- 2000 Nelson Mandela presented Powers with a commemorative limited edition gold coin
- Appointed a South African Tourism Ambassador
- June 2003 the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation honoured her and singer Sibongile Khumalo with their prestigious annual award, promoting reconciliation by "singing people together"
- September 2003 food chain Pick 'n PayPick 'n PayPick 'n Pay is a second largest supermarket chain store in South Africa, established in 1967. It can also be found in other regions of southern Africa, such as Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The founder of the chain is Jack Goldin. Raymond Ackerman purchased three Pick 'n Pay...
nominated her as one of their "Stars of Charity" for having "made a difference in uplifting the youth of South Africa"
Powers has been extensively involved with the Reach For a Dream Foundation, as well as the Hamlet Foundation. She was commissioned by the President's office to write and perform a song for the Children's Rights Commission.
In 2004 she was voted 93rd in the Top 100 Great South Africans
SABC3's Great South Africans
Great South Africans was a South African television series that aired on SABC3 and hosted by Noeleen Maholwana Sangqu and Denis Beckett. In September 2004, thousands of South Africans took part in an informal nationwide poll to determine the "100 Greatest South Africans" of all time...
.