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Trending in Sonja Herholdt’s World
Latest Album
20 Gewildste Treffers
Released Jul 30, 1999
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Quick Facts
Born
1952
1952
From
South Africa
South Africa
Journey
Sonja Herholdt is a prominent South African singer-songwriter and actress, born in the small mining town of Nigel in 1952. After completing her teaching diploma, she chose to pursue her musical aspirations, a decision that would lead to a career spanning decades. Her breakthrough came with the 1976 hit "Ek Verlang Na Jou," which quickly achieved gold status and established her as a major force in the Afrikaans music industry. Her success continued throughout the 1970s and 1980s, during which she was often the best-selling female artist in South Africa.
Over her career, Herholdt has earned numerous accolades, including an impressive eight Sarie awards. Her talent also resonated internationally; she became the first South African singer invited to perform on Dutch television, where her song "Oberammergau" became a chart hit. She also had a successful acting career, winning a Rapport Oscar Award for Best Female Newcomer for her starring role in the 1979 film Sing vir die Harlekyn.
Herholdt has consistently adapted and evolved her career. In 1989, she released the gospel album The Warrior is a Child and performed in Washington. The 1990s brought significant personal challenges, including a serious car accident and a divorce, but she eventually returned to her music, exploring a new direction with the introspective album Reconstructing Alice in 2000.
Beyond her stage career, Herholdt's life reflects a commitment to service and personal growth. Following her son's hearing impairment diagnosis in 1993, she established a school for hearing-impaired children. She also ventured into writing, publishing her autobiography Sonja: Meisie van Nigel in 2007. Through musical evolution and personal resilience, Sonja Herholdt has remained an influential figure in South African entertainment.