The Power of PJ
Her book, aptly titled Here I am, tells of her struggle with the dark side of alcoholism and her journey back to reality.
PJ Powers creates a myriad of emotions in her audience, whether it’s with her music or her prose. Her deep, throaty, voice captures those who are fortunate enough to be in the same room as “Thandeka”…
Eagle Canyon Lifestyle and Golf Estate invited PJ to a Women’s Day morning on Saturday, 5 August, to share her story of deep depression, the highs and lows of stardom and her eight years of sobriety. Her book, aptly titled Here I am, tells of her struggle with the dark side of alcoholism and her journey back to reality.
She told of her battle to find herself and how on Republic Day (31 May) of 1982, a white rock’n’roll band, Hotline, took a detour into Soweto, unaware that their lead singer’s life would change forever. Hotline was the first all-white band to cross over in the highly segregated apartheid South Africa with their song, Jabulani. Soon she was a celebrated international star, finding a receptive audience in the black market, who gave her the nickname, “Thandeka” — “the loved one”.
Interspersed with songs both old and new, her talk brought the women in the room to their feet. She belted out her hit Jabulani and after some hilarious stories of her early years, she finished the morning off with World in Union, the Rugby World Cup 1995 hit that she made with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. As her story brought tears to the eyes of those that could relate to her story, so her rendition of World in Union brought goosebumps to all of us.
Women from all walks of life filled the Golf Club’s event venue and enjoyed a great spread, from mini bunny-chows to Amarula cupcakes. They flocked to hear PJ Powers, the star who has shared the stage with the likes of Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading, Hugh Masekela, Divine Divas, Lord Richard Attenborough, and Sibongile Khumalo and performed for Queen Elizabeth, King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
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