Busi Mhlongo Biography: Husband, Age, Death, Albums, Net Worth, Parents, Songs

Busi Mhlongo, affectionately known as the “Queen of Maskanda,” was a South African singer, dancer, and composer whose vibrant fusion of traditional Zulu music with jazz, funk, reggae, and gospel left a lasting impact on the global music scene.

Born on October 28, 1947, in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, her powerful voice and barefoot performances conveyed messages of freedom and justice, earning her a revered place in South African music history until her passing in 2010.

Profile

• Full Name: Victoria Busisiwe Mhlongo
• Stage Name: Busi Mhlongo
• Born: October 28, 1947
• Age: 62 (at the time of her passing on June 15, 2010)
• Birthplace: Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
• Nationality: South African
• Occupation: South African Singer, Dancer, and Composer
• Height: 5’7
• Parents: Flora Mhlongo (mother, d. 2001); father’s name Mr Mhlongo
• Siblings: Jabulani Mhlongo, Ndaba Mhlongo
• Spouse: Early Mabuza (m. until his passing in the 1970s)
• Children: One daughter (name not publicly disclosed)
• Relationship: Widowed
• Net Worth: $300,000

Early Life and Education

Busi Mhlongo was born on October 28, 1947, in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, and raised in the musically rich village of Ohlange. Growing up in a caring extended family, she was influenced by her mother, Flora Mhlongo, a singer who passed away in 2001, and her siblings, Jabulani and Ndaba.

Her nephew, Somizi Mhlongo, later became a prominent entertainer. Busi’s love for music emerged early, as she sang in school choirs and concert groups. Details of her formal education are limited, as her career began in her teens when a Gallo Music talent scout discovered her.

Her ethnicity was South African (Zulu), and she was an initiated sangoma, a traditional healer, which deeply shaped her music and spirituality.

Career

Busi Mhlongo, a trailblazing singer and composer, launched her career in the early 1960s, recording as Victoria Mhlongo. Her 1963 rendition of “My Boy Lollipop” became a national hit, establishing her as a rising star. She performed in musicals like King Kong in Durban and joined jazz groups, including Early Mabuza’s Big Five, as a soloist.

In 1968, she toured with Alfred Herbert’s African Follies in Lourenço Marques (now Maputo). Due to her anti-apartheid activism through music, she was exiled in the 1970s, living in London, the Netherlands, and North America.

In London, she adopted the name Vickie and recorded with exiled South African artists like Dudu Pukwana and Julian Bahula. By the 1980s, she performed internationally with artists like Salif Keita. Returning to South Africa in the 1990s, she formed her band, Twasa, and released Urban Zulu (1998), a groundbreaking album blending Maskanda with modern genres, earning global acclaim.

Other albums, like Babhemu (2000) and Freedom (2003), solidified her legacy. Known as “Mam’Busi,” her barefoot performances and poignant lyrics inspired by Dorothy Masuka, Miriam Makeba, and Princess Magogo resonated with audiences worldwide.

Social Media

• Facebook Handle: Busi Mhlongo

Personal Life

Busi Mhlongo, a visionary singer and composer, was born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal. She married drummer Early Mabuza, a member of the Big Five, in the 1960s. They had one daughter, whose name remains private. Early was murdered in the 1970s, and due to her exile, Busi could neither raise her daughter nor attend his funeral, a profound personal loss.

As an initiated sangoma, her spiritual beliefs infused her music with authenticity. Exiled from South Africa in the 1970s for her anti-apartheid activism, she lived in London, the Netherlands, and North America, returning in the 1990s.

Diagnosed with cancer, she passed away on June 15, 2010, in Durban at age 62. Her nephew, Somizi Mhlongo, paid tribute to her influence, notably covering her song “Ntandane” in 2020. Busi’s carefree spirit shone through her barefoot performances, embodying her connection to her Zulu roots.

Filmography

• Long Street (2009) – Actress
• Gensyn med Johannesburg (1996) – Herself

Discography

• Urban Zulu (1998)
• Babhemu (2000)
• Freedom (2003)
• Indiza: Voyages from the Past to the Future (2003, compilation with remixes)
• The Busi Mhlongo Collection (2004)
• Amakholwa (2005)
• Notable singles: “Yise Wabant’a Bami,” “We Baba Omncane,” “Baxabene Oxamu,” “My Boy Lollipop” (1963)

Net Worth

Busi Mhlongo, an influential singer and composer, had an estimated net worth of $300,000 at the time of her passing. Her income derived from album sales, international performances, and royalties from her catalog, including hits like “We Baba Omncane.”

Additional earnings came from her acting roles and music released under labels like M.E.L.T. 2000.