SA: Apple Music launches third Visionary Women campaign

2 Aug 2021 - 12:48

Published under the Creative Commons Licence

Apple Music has launched the third instalment of its Visionary Women campaign to celebrate female creatives that have shaped, shifted and enriched the local and global music landscape. The campaign was launched as part of South African Women’s Day on 9 August.

Makhadzi has been featured in Apple Music's Visionary Women campaign.

The campaign features albums, playlists and videos by local artists like Janie Bay, Amanda Black, Zoë Modiga, Azana, Moonchild Sanelly, Buhlebendalo, Demi Lee Moore, Makhadzi, Nomcebo Zikode and Jackie Queens. Also featured are former Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi and TV presenter Luthando Shosha.

To celebrate the achievements of South African female artists, Apple Music has also announced Lady Du, Makhadzi, DBN Gogo, Elaine and Shekhinah as the most streamed local female artists on the platform.

“Being a visionary woman in 2021 for me means that we have to be bolder than we have been to push through the broken narratives of women and break through to the minds and hearts of young women still finding themselves, encouraging critical thinking and emotional intelligence,” Amanda Black said.

Demi Lee Moore said: “Being a visionary woman in our time is taking the baton from the strong women who came before us. Not letting their good work go to waste and using our voice to make a change in the world.”

Jackie Queens said becoming a visionary woman during the COVID-19 pandemic required living a life led by values. “I say that because the world is changing dramatically daily. Plans are disrupted in the blink of an eye. Being a visionary woman means using values as a compass instead of binding yourself to identities that can disappear in an instant. No matter what happens or how the tide turns, if you remain consistent, kind to yourself, ambitious, bold or any one of myriad positive attributes one can have in life and apply those to whatever you do, even if your course changes, you’ll weather the storm while sowing seeds for the future. Right now, the visionary woman is adaptive and daring.”

Buhlebendalo said she was inspired by artists who remained true to themselves. “I could wax lyrical about how I have seen some of these women pursue their dreams relentlessly, against all odds. Not to glamourise struggle, an indie career is difficult to pursue. To see it done with grace and integrity while remaining a good person is beautiful to me,” Buhlebendalo said.