SAMRO mourns the Queen of Maskandi

The Southern African Music Rights Organisation (SAMRO) has expressed its sadness at the passing of singer-songwriter Busi Mhlongo.

The SAMA and Kora Award-winning Mhlongo, 62, passed away on 15 May 2010 following a lengthy battle with breast cancer.

SAMRO’s General Manager: Corporate Affairs, André le Roux, said the organisation’s heartfelt thoughts and sympathies were with Mhlongo’s loved ones during this tragic time, and paid tribute to the “Queen of Maskand1”.

“Busi bore her illness with great bravery and forbearance, and we were devastated to hear of her death. During her musical career she was a pioneering female maskanda artist in a male-dominated genre, and her fusing of traditional Zulu music with contemporary influences was nothing short of revolutionary. For both her extraordinary courage in the face of a terminal illness and her rich musical legacy, Busi is as an inspiration to us all.”

Le Roux added that “as we mourn her passing on Youth Day, we hope that the younger generation of local musicians will learn from Busi’s sterling example and that the nation will acknowledge the invaluable contribution she made to the development of South African music”.

Mhlongo was born in Inanda, Natal, as Victoria Busisiwe Mhlongo in 1947. Over the years she evolved a music style that drew on various inspirations – such as mbaqanga, maskandi, marabi and traditional Zulu music – and incorporated contemporary elements from genres such as jazz, funk, rock, gospel, rap, opera, reggae and West African music.

She worked with top African musicians such as Hugh Masekela, Dr Philip Tabane, Dorothy Masuka, Salif Keita, Winston Mankunku Ngozi and Manu Dibango. In 2000, Mhlongo won three FNB South African Music Awards – for best female artist, best contemporary African album, and best African pop album. She followed this up with a Kora Award.

Photograph courtersy of Munich Records / Sheer Sound