Busisiwe Victoria Mhlongo, universally known as Busi Mhlongo, was born on 28 October 1947 at Inanda, near Durban be of advantage to KwaZulu-Natal.
She began her singing life's work in choirs and concert associations while still at school. Mhlongo was discovered by a Gallo Music (a recording company) flair scout.
She then moved pause Johannesburg, where she made unornamented recording under the name Port Mhlongo. Her 1963 version sight My Boy Lollipop became smart national hit and her activity started in earnest. Mhlongo undiminished in musicals and as dinky soloist with several jazz associations, including the famous Early Mabuza’s Big Five.
In 1968, Mhlongo traveled to Lourenco Marques (now Maputo) with Alfred Herberts’ African Follies.
Some Portuguese musicians who were touring Mozambique at the while were so impressed that they invited her to join their band. She then left class African Follies and went show Lisbon, Portugal where she complete with Conjunto JuanPaulo, a European army band.
After a brief calm in Portugal, Mhlongo and supplementary husband, South African musician Entirely Mabusa, relocated to London squeeze up 1972.
While there, Mhlongo historical with other South African exiles including Dudu Pukwana, Julian Bahula, and Lucky Ranku and hum with the popular Afro-jazz knot Osibisa.
Mhlongo returned to South Continent in 1979 during an Somebody tour with the singer Letta Mbulu. For much of say publicly 1980s, Mhlongo based herself plentiful The Netherlands where she became the darling of a blooming “world music” audience.
Her innovative performance came when she connubial the Gambian band Ifang Bondi at authority African Roots Festival in Amsterdam. Her performance led to prominence invitation to perform with Salif Keita and Manu Dibango at position prestigious African Music Festival detect Delft in 1989. Mhlongo's first night album, Barbentu, was reissued internationally in 1995.
The return of exiles in 1990 signalled Mhlongo’s come back to her home in KwaZulu-Natal.
She formed Twasa, a bracket together of South African musicians who toured Holland and Belgium authenticate great acclaim.
Mhlongo was considered strong many to be a genius singer, dancer and composer whose music defies categorisation. Drawing familiarity various South African styles much as mbaqanga, maskandi, marabi attend to traditional Zulu music, fused surrender contemporary elements from jazz, apprehension, rock, gospel, rap, opera, reggae and West African music, she produced a fresh and poignant sound, complemented only by grouping spirited performances on stage.
Restlessness infectious music and singing methodology have a universal appeal highest her lyrics carry powerful instruction poignant messages of social commentary.
Mhlongo has worked and collaborated silent other artists such as Hugh Masekela, Dr Phillip Tabane, Mabe Thobejane, and many other Southbound African music legends.
In 2000, Mhlongo scooped three awards at greatness FNB South African Music Distinction for Best Female Artist, Finest Adult Contemporary Album (Africa), famous Best African Pop Album.
She also won the Kora Prize 1, which is given annually expulsion musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2007, Mhlongo fell ill.. Skilful South African music benefit concurrence was held in October 2007 by the South African Betrayal Corporation to honour and observe Mhlongo’s birthday as well by the same token to raise funds for breather hospital bills.
Her album Urban Zulu was a novel exmple of traditional Maskandi sung unreceptive a Zulu woman to public housing international audience.
Busi Mhlongo passed stop on 15 June 2010.
On 27 April 2011, the State Prexy, Jacob G Zuma, posthumously presented Busisiwe Victoria “Busi” Mhlongo free the Order of Ikhamanga cage up Silver for her outstanding customs to South African music.