South African gov’t allows Stevie Wonder’s music to be played on the radio

In 1985, Stevie Wonder’s music was sanctioned from South African radios after his tribute to Nelson Mandela at the Grammy’s that year. The South African government did not support Nelson Mandela because he was the most famous prisoner that fought against the Apartheid system and white minority rule.

On this day, September 20th, in 1985, Stevie Wonder’s music was gracing the South African people once again via radio. The government ran South African Broadcasting Corporation realized the importance of Wonder’s music with its transcultural appeal and played Stevie’s hit single Part Time Lover on all airways.