Busi Mhlongo

Busisiwe Victoria Mhlongo, known globally as Busi Mhlongo, was born on 28 October 1947 in Inanda, near Durban. Her musical talent emerged early through school choirs and youth groups, eventually attracting the attention of a Gallo Music scout who brought her to Johannesburg. Performing under the name Victoria Mhlongo, she recorded several songs, and her 1963 rendition of My Boy Lollipop became a national hit. She later broadened her artistic range through musical theatre and jazz, performing with ensembles such as Early Mabuza’s Big Five.

Her career took an international path in 1968 when she joined African Follies and later moved to Portugal after being noticed by local musicians. In 1972, she and her husband relocated to London, where she collaborated with South African artists living in exile and performed with the Afro-jazz group Osibisa. Although she briefly returned to South Africa in 1979, she spent much of the 1980s in the Netherlands, where she developed a strong international following and delivered some of her most celebrated performances. Her earlier album Barbentu reached new audiences when it was reissued internationally in 1995.

Following South Africa’s political transition, she returned to KwaZulu-Natal and later formed her band Twasa, touring Europe and continuing to refine her distinctive sound. Busi earned widespread acclaim for her powerful voice, charismatic stage presence, and bold fusion of genres — blending maskandi, mbaqanga, jazz, marabi, rock, reggae, gospel, rap, and West African influences. Her music honoured Zulu culture while simultaneously pushing creative boundaries, earning her recognition across generations.

She collaborated with leading artists including Hugh Masekela, Dr Phillip Tabane, and Mabe Thobejane. In 2000, she received three FNB South African Music Awards and a Kora Award, while her landmark album Urban Zulu solidified her status as an international icon of contemporary Zulu music.

In her later years, her health declined, prompting a benefit concert in her honour in 2007. She passed away on 15 June 2010 and was posthumously awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for her significant contribution to South African music.