Growing up in Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg) in Sou… Read Full Bio ↴Judith Sephuma
Growing up in Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg) in South Africa's Limpopo Province, Judith knew that she wanted to be a singer from an early age. After matriculating at Khagiso High School, she attended Johannesburg's legendary FUBA Academy music school in 1993, where she received her Grade 5 Music Diploma. One of her fellow students was an ambitious young guitarist who she knew from Polokwane, one Selaelo Selota, a man who would play a major role in her career. Other achievements included reaching the finals of the Shell Road to Fame contest in 1994, and the finals in SABC's Jam Alley Search For Talent that year. In 1994 she made a significant move to Cape Town to study music at the University of Cape Town, graduating in 1997 with a Performer's Diploma in Jazz. Judith then gained her Honours Degree in Jazz Performance, majoring in Jazz Singing, under the supervision of Prof. Mike Campbell, in 1999. While studying Jazz singing, she was also classically trained by Virginia Davids for five years.
During her years in the Cape, Judith's reputation as a vocalist blossomed, and she had the opportunity to work in bands like (fellow UCT music student) Selaelo Selota's Taola, Meropa, UCT's Big Band, The C-Base Collective and The Cape Symphonic Orchestra. She also performed with Jimmy Dludlu, Loading Zone and Ian Smith's Virtual Jazz Reality, as well as alongside musicians such as Jack van Poll and Gerry Spencer, and sang at many a cocktail party and private functions. In 1996 JUDITH SEPHUMA was invited by Spencer to travel on the Symphony cruise ship for two months, visiting exotic places like Bazaruto, Mauritious, Zanzibar, Mombasa, and Reunion. Later the same year she performed, with the band Meropa, in Nantes, France at the Fin de Siecle Festival - her first overseas visit 1998/1999 with the assistance of pianist van Poll, Judith gained much experience performing in Europe, and among her gigs was being invited by the South African government to perform in Holland for the Mandela's Children Trust Fund.
Judith was invited by Jimmy Dludlu to perform at Thabo Mbeki's presidential inauguration in Pretoria, June 1999. In that year she also had the honour of meeting former president Nelson Mandela and sang a special song to him and his wife, Graca Machel, at the Cape Sun hotel. Another highlight of that year was singing at the Miss SA beauty pageant in Sun City. The young singer was certainly paying her music industry dues, developing skills like confidence, versatility, patience and professionalism, and all the while laying the secure foundations for her future success.
Having previously entered a number of music competitions, a pivotal moment came when Judith was awarded first prize for Best Jazz Vocalist at the Old Mutual Jazz Into The Future competition in June 1999 and she was signed to (then) BMG Africa’s imprint, Giant Steps, shortly afterwards. At the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town in 2000, Judith formed her own backing band and performed under her own name and in 2001 she recorded her debut, A Smile, A Cry, A Dance.
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You Had Your Hand On Me
Judith Sephuma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mmm Mmmm
Through the mountains and valleys
You had your hand on me
Through the sky and the oceans
You had your hand on me
When the thunders roared
And floods rose
When fires swallowed homes
And lives eaten by flames
I looked up to your grace
I guess I'll keep on yearning for your love
Oh yeah, somebody hear me
Doo doo doo
Doo Doo doo
Mornings came and nights went by
Loneliness overcame me
But the strength you gave helped me
My worries melted away
Day in day out
I thought of home
But you gave me strength
All my hopes and dreams
Soon they'll come true
I looked up to your grace
I guess I'll keep on yearning for your love
Oh yeah, won't you hear me
Doo doo doo dodont doo
Won't you hear me
The lyrics of Judith Sephuma's "You Had Your Hand on Me" describe the singer's unshakeable faith in God's grace and protection during times of turmoil and uncertainty. She sings about how, through the mountains and valleys, through the sky and the oceans, God had his hand on her. She describes how, even in the face of natural disasters like thunderstorms and floods, or human-made disasters like fires that swallow homes and take lives, she looked to God's grace for solace and strength.
In the second verse, the singer talks about how loneliness overcame her, but the strength God gave her helped her overcome it. She thought of home day in, day out, but God gave her the strength to keep going and pursue her hopes and dreams. Throughout the song, the singer expresses her gratitude to God for his constant presence in her life, and her yearning for his love and guidance.
Overall, the lyrics of "You Had Your Hand on Me" reflect the universal human desire for a higher power to guide and protect them, especially during times of hardship and uncertainty. The song offers a message of hope and faith in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Through the mountains and valleys
During the ups and downs of life, you were always present
You had your hand on me
You protected and guided me through life's challenges
Through the sky and the oceans
Your care extended to every corner of the world
When the thunders roared
Even in moments of fear and danger, I trusted in your mercy
And floods rose
When disaster struck, I knew I could count on your support
I looked up to your grace
I found comfort and hope in your loving kindness
When fires swallowed homes
Even in times of overwhelming loss, I knew you were with me
And lives eaten by flames
Even in the face of death, I felt your everlasting love
I guess I'll keep on yearning for your love
I will always seek your divine guidance and unconditional love
Oh yeah, somebody hear me
I call out to anyone who will listen to my testimony of faith
Mornings came and nights went by
Days passed, but your presence remained constant
Loneliness overcame me
Even in moments of solitude, I felt your comforting embrace
But the strength you gave helped me
Your fortitude empowered me to overcome my struggles
My worries melted away
Your care alleviated my anxieties and fears
Day in day out
Every day, I am grateful for your blessings
I thought of home
I yearned for the safety and security of your embrace
All my hopes and dreams
With your guidance, all my aspirations will come to fruition
Soon they'll come true
I have faith that your blessings will manifest in my life
Won't you hear me
I pray that you will continue to listen to my praise and worship
Doo doo doo dodont doo
My song of gratitude and devotion to you
Contributed by Savannah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nontembisotheodorapakade
This is a prayer 🙌🙌🙌🙌
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June 2022.... 12years later....Stuff classics are made of.... Lifetime music
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John legend
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#SweetAndMellowSound
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Still...❤
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Pure talent