Sponsored Tweets

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

BUSI MHLONGO - DEATH OF AN ICON

Busi Mhlongo, (October 28, 1947 – June 15, 2010

South African music icon of "We Baba Omncane" fame, which was used for a global Adidas campaign in the early 2000s - had been fighting breast cancer for several years and died at the Albert Luthuli hospital in Durban on June 15. She was 62.

Born as Victoria Busisiwe Mhlongo, she is originally from Inanda in Kwa Zulu, Natal , South Africa, Busi Mhlongo was a virtuoso singer, dancer and composer whose music defies categorization. Drawing on various South African styles such as mbaqanga, maskanda, marabi and traditional Zulu, fused with contemporary elements from jazz, funk, rock, gospel, rap, opera, reggae and West African music she produces a fresh and exciting sound. Her infectious music and singing style have a universal appeal and her lyrics carry powerful and poignant messages. In the 1960s.

Damon Forbes, managing director of Johannesburg-based Sheer Sound, which released Mhlongo's debut "Babhemu" (a joint effort with the artist Twasa), described the mother-of-one as "a strong-minded woman who believed she should be heard."

"Busi said what she thought and believed in herself and her right to be recognized locally as well as internationally for what she represented within the Zulu culture - not only as an ambassador but as a incredible musical talent and amazingly spiritual person," Forbes commented.

Mhlongo's impact on a younger generation of artists was underscored with her featured vocal on "We Baba," a track by young dance music hotshot Culoe De Song, which was up for song of the year at this years SA Music Awards. Mhlongo was also known for her scorching live performances which saw her give full expression to her Zulu roots through her dancing and singing.

Cape Town-based producer Gabi le Roux expressed the emotions of many in the music industry when he said, "It is with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of another Queen of the SA Music Industry and true custodian of Zulu culture." Gabi le Roux had worked with Mhlongo on her album "Indiza - Voyages Through New Sounds."

Mhlongo released a series of studio albums through both M.E.L.T. 2000 and Sheer Sound since the mid-1990s. "Urban Zulu" is considered Mhlongo's classic album. The Will Mowat-produced album earned the Zulu singer a trio of South African Music Awards in 2000 including best female artist.

Her signature Zulu traditional music blended with soul, jazz and pop, and was heard most recently on "Amakholwa Believers," which earned Mhlongo nominations for female artist of the year, best album and best adult contemporary album: African at the 2010 South African Music Awards.


Adapted from: Billboard.biz

1 comment:

  1. I was there in Newtown, Joburg, South Africa when a collective of musicians together with some industry practitioners hosted a show especialy for Mama Busi Mhlongo as she was trying hard to fight with breast cancer, I saw her perfoming and I saw her in tears as those artists were singing praises to her.
    Lord you feel this is a right time to take care of her, do as you may please but do know one thing that we thankful and grateful that you let her be born in our country.
    Rest in peace MAMA ur music will live on to generations to come

    ReplyDelete