Tribute from artSMart reviewer, Sifiso Sikhakhane.Once again, the South African music industry faces a sad loss as one of its icons, Busi Mhlongo passed away the night before last after suffering from breast cancer.
Born in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, Busisiwe Victoria Mhlongo’s music career began in the early stages of her life when she began singing with groups which were led by her older brother. After one of the groups won the Gallo Records talent competition, Mhlongo’s music career took a stand as she then became one of South Africa’s acclaimed musicians, composers, dancers and theatrical performers.
This success also marked her international career in places such as London, Canada, Portugal and Toronto where she took part in the stage comedy, Reefer Gladness.
It was only by chance that I came across her album, UrbanZulu whilst browsing through my Aunt’s record collections. This album, which is said not to have been very successful, contains powerful songs such as Yaphel’ imali Yami (My Money Is Gone) which I could not help but fall in love with.
I was only exposed to this songbird’s music at a very late stage in my life; however, I was able to embrace it as I found it very inspirational, especially because she worked with multiple genres such as Mbaqanga, Maskandi, and other popular genres such as jazz and reggae which she fused with traditional Zulu.
The new black generation is not familiar with “Maskandi” (Zulu folk music based on South African Society) because they consider it to be boring and not on the same par as current music trends. I would know this because I am also guilty of expressing such comments. However, Mhlongo’s Maskandi music has managed to catch a few of the youth’s attention, including myself, because of the remixing of her tracks for the dance floor.
Mhlongo died at the age of 62 while she was still working on two traditional Zulu songs with the famous Isicathamiya group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. She will forever live through her music. - Sifiso Sikhakhane.
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