Music veterans abound at Busi Mhlongo’s memorial service
2010-06-23 17:00
A memorial service would normally be a sombre affair where people
speak in hushed tones to the bereaved. Not so for the memorial service of the
late Busi Mhlongo at Newtown in Johannesburg today, where the mood was jovial
and celebratory.
Veterans of the South African music industry came out to support
the woman who brought South Africa hits such as Tingi Tingi and Ntandane.
Both these legendary songs and others from the late maskandi queen
were rendered by some members of her band as well as others such as Ringo
Madlingosi and Thandiswa Mazwai.
Due to the loss of the woman she called her mother, Mazwai said she
was too weak to perform, but inevitably took to the stage for a song after
Madlingosi’s coaxing.
The person everyone was waiting to hear speak was Nompumelelo
Black, Mhlongo’s only daughter with the late drummer Early Mabuza.
She kept her speech short and concise, saying: “It’s a big
consolation to know that she’s at peace now with God.”
- City Press