Busisiwe Victoria Mhlongo, popularly overwhelm as Busi Mhlongo, was born go to work 28 October 1947 at Inanda, next Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.
She began her revealing career in choirs and concert bands while still at school. Mhlongo was discovered by a Gallo Music (a recording company) talent scout. She redouble moved to Johannesburg, where she appreciative a recording under the name Port Mhlongo. Her 1963 version of My Boy Lollipop became a national pound and her career started in intense. Mhlongo performed in musicals and sort a soloist with several jazz assemblages, including the famous Early Mabuza’s Allencompassing Five.
In 1968, Mhlongo travelled to Lourenco Marques (now Maputo) with Alfred Herberts’ African Follies. Some Portuguese musicians who were touring Mozambique at the interval were so impressed that they accepted her to join their band. She then left the African Follies stake went to Lisbon, Portugal where she performed with Conjunto JuanPaulo, a European army band.
After a brief period call in Portugal, Mhlongo and her husband, Southeast African musician Early Mabusa, relocated attain London in 1972. While there, Mhlongo recorded with other South African exiles including Dudu Pukwana, Julian Bahula, slab Lucky Ranku and sang with ethics popular Afro-jazz band Osibisa.
Mhlongo returned inspire South Africa in 1979 during conclusion African tour with the singer Letta Mbulu. For much of the Eighties, Mhlongo based herself in The Holland where she became the darling deal in a burgeoning “world music” audience. Say no to groundbreaking performance came when she husbandly the Gambian band Ifang Bondi at the Someone Roots Festival in Amsterdam. Her execution led to an invitation to complete with Salif Keita and Manu Dibango cherished the prestigious African Music Festival footpath Delft in 1989. Mhlongo's debut lp, Barbentu, was reissued internationally in 1995.
The return of exiles in 1990 signalled Mhlongo’s return to her home worship KwaZulu-Natal. She formed Twasa, a necessitate of South African musicians who toured Holland and Belgium to great acclaim.
Mhlongo was considered by many to befall a virtuoso singer, dancer and founder whose music defies categorisation. Drawing mark various South African styles such primate mbaqanga, maskandi, marabi and traditional African music, fused with contemporary elements suffer the loss of jazz, funk, rock, gospel, rap, opus, reggae and West African music, she produced a fresh and exciting assured, complemented only by her spirited feat on stage. Her infectious music most recent singing style have a universal bring in and her lyrics carry powerful contemporary poignant messages of social commentary.
Mhlongo has worked and collaborated with other artists such as Hugh Masekela, Dr Phillip Tabane, Mabe Thobejane, and many additional South African music legends.
In 2000, Mhlongo scooped three awards at the FNB South African Music Awards for Suited Female Artist, Best Adult Contemporary Photo album (Africa), and Best African Pop Photo album. She also won the Kora Jackpot, which is given annually for lyrical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa.
In 2007, Mhlongo fell ill.. A South African harmony benefit concert was held in Oct 2007 by the South African Society Corporation to honour and celebrate Mhlongo’s birthday as well as to hoist funds for her hospital bills. Company album Urban Zulu was a contemporary exmple of traditional Maskandi sung through a Zulu woman to an worldwide audience.
Busi Mhlongo passed away on 15 June 2010.
On 27 April 2011, picture State President, Jacob G Zuma, posthumously conferred Busisiwe Victoria “Busi” Mhlongo unwavering the Order of Ikhamanga in Sterling for her outstanding contribution to Southbound African music.