For her invaluable contribution to the course of womenhood and mankind, Gospel minister and founder of Gospel Academy, Manelli Hawley has received the prestigious I Am Super Woman award.
The cheerful London based, South African who has contributed positively to the gospel genre as well as mentoring young artistes in not only sharpening their skills but providing an environment of love and spiritual encouragement.
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Though a recipient of many awards, Hawley popularly called Sister Manelli ia grateful for this award and blurted: “I Am a Superwoman is an event that is so beautiful. I am so blessed to be part of it. It was wonderful, I have met so much beautiful women and everybody was amazing. I really felt so blessed to be part of it. I would say a big thanks to Dr. Pauline Long for inviting me. It was like a surprise and to my mentor HRM Florence Okonkwo. I adore them these two women. I am learning a lot from them. They are so amazing in my life. I feel so blessed to have them in my life. It is rare to come across these two people in life.
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I feel great to be called a superwoman. It encourages. At the end of the day we feel empowered knowing that we feel great about what we do.”
The talented musician Manelli Hawley hails from Umlazi, Durban. She was raised in a Christian background and her first experience of gospel music came through her mother’s sisters who were gospel singers. It was that environment, coupled with a fervent desire to know more about God that led Manelli to heed her calling to be a musician from a tender age. This would see her become a member of various gospel groups and eventually decide to leave Durban for Johannesburg to pursue her calling at a higher level. In her journey, she has worked with Ray Phiri and Stimela as backing singer, and also Sharon, Rebecca Malope among others. Later her family relocated to England which led to changes that would culminate in the release of her debut album in 2013.