Born on the 16th of July 1960, the Durban-born songstress became a household name in South Africa as her music transcended race, playing a huge role in uniting the country during hard times. After completing her studies, Powers started an all-female band in 1979 called Pantha.

The band Pantha broke up in 1980, but this didn't kill her spirit, instead Thandeka was part of the creation of a new band that would become a household name as well, Hotline. It was her eventual platform to the success that she has experienced for at least four decades now. 

Image: discogs.com

In the 1980's, Hotline grabbed many hearts with their youthful sounds of the time. The band made big moves not only in South Africa, but also across Africa in countries like Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique. The band was together for 7 years before separating in 1987, which is when Thandeka decided to go at it as a solo artist. The talented Thandeka was however banned by the South African apartheid government in 1988, after performing for Zimbabwean orphans and giving then exiled South African songstress Miriam Makeba a hug. 

The ban did not discourage her at all, as in the 1990's, Thandeka grew bigger and bigger in South Africa, so big that she sang at the inauguration of Nelson Mandela and performed across the globe for some of the most high-profiled guests, including the late Queen Elizabeth. Together with M’du Masilela and Yvonne Chaka Chaka, PJ did a global United Nations music video. She also got to perform at the Rugby World Cup in Cape Town back in 1995 with her song PJ Powers World in Union. 

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Having performed for royals, presidents, high-profile audiences and the average, normal South African in a career that spans over 40 years, PJ Thandeka Powers has been and will remain one of the most loved South African artists ever to grace our airwaves.