Jawaahier Petersen is following in her musical parents’ footsteps with the release of her debut single, Promise Me.
The eldest daughter of late composer Taliep Petersen and singer Madeegha Anders will launch the track on all digital platforms on 3 May.
Multi-talented Jawaahier, 34, is already a familiar face, acting in TV drama Suidooster.
LEGEND: Taliep Petersen
She says she drew inspiration for the song in 2016, after meeting cancer sufferer Jana du Plessis at a motivational speaking event.
Jana was an author, activist, athlete and beauty pageant organiser.
“On the day, she spoke about how she prays to God to keep her alive to live for her children. She further prayed that she be the only mother her children will know,” says Jawaahier.
“I went home that day and on my way home, I wrote a song with the idea that if ever I wasn’t around anymore, that the person who takes my place will promise to love my children as her own.
“Sadly Jana passed away in 2017 and during this lockdown, this song resurfaced and I decided to record it and my brother Ashur will produce the song for me.
“This song, Promise Me, celebrates mothers, foster moms, biological moms, stepmoms, moms who marry widowers, etc.”
“It’s also an amazing journey to be on with my brother during lockdown.”
Jawaahier aims to release three videos a week, of moms with their children, in the build-up to the song’s release.
“I’m speaking to different moms in these videos and they share their experiences of motherhood.”
Jawaahier, who is also a qualified social worker and actress, is a mom of two - a girl aged three and boy, six years old.
“Lockdown has allowed me to get off the hamster wheel, I was on and forced me to focus on finishing and releasing this song,” she adds.
“I had great plans for a music video, but lockdown forced me to think out of the box.”
Instead Jawaahier has done a collage of images of local and international moms and their kids.
View this post on Instagram
Here's to celebrating mother's and the natural ability to love 💜
A post shared by Jawaahier Petersen(@jawaahier) on Apr 17, 2020 at 10:05am PDT
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