PJ Powers, Nomzamo Mbatha and others curate ‘30 Years of Freedom’ playlists

SOUTH African icons in the sport, fashion, music, business and art industries have come together in a campaign to celebrate our country’s three decades of freedom.

Put together by Apple Music, the “30 Years of Freedom” campaign sees legends such as PJ Powers, Nomzamo Mbatha, Benni McCarthy, Connie Chiume, Laduma Ngxokolo, Rich Mnisi, Melanie Bala, Arno Carstens, Sylvester Chauke, Brenda Mthambo, Musa Keys and Gregory Maqoma create music playlists that they think have defined these last 30 years of freedom.

In true Mbatha style, the actress chose to curate songs that are “deeply nostalgic” to her. Her playlist includes 38 songs from TKZee’s Dlala Mapantsula to Fairytale by Liquideep, as well as AKA and Zahara, Mafikizolo, Malaika and Thandiswa Mazwai.

The Shaka Ilembe actress and producer said: “These artists have given us a lifetime of memories. There are people who make music, and then there are artists. These folks are artists.

“The originality, the audacious ambition, the swag, the glorious grounding in the places they take us, it’s unmatched.

“It reminds me of summer days of gqom hitting the speakers, where I’m grateful for the chance to live in a new renaissance of this country.

“They remind me that South Africa has always and will always create music that unifies and solidifies lifetime memories,” shared Mbatha.

Jabulani hitmaker PJ Powers added 30 songs to her playlist. She went with songs that resonated with her, including Brenda Fassie, Johnny Clegg, Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba.

“We have such a beautiful, culturally diverse country that if someone listened to this playlist they would think I was musically schizophrenic.

“These artists have added to the fusion of sound that we are able to so proudly call South African music.”

South African football legend Benni McCarthy earmarked some of the biggest tracks from local artists, alongside his own music collaborators.

Artists include Mandoza, AKA, Brenda Fassie, Mi Casa and Trompies, among others. “These were the songs that gave you hope and aspirations of one day making a difference in people’s lives.”