Busi Mhlongo dies, Sheer devastation

Damon Forbes, owner of Sheer Sound, Mhlongo's recording home, says the Zulu roots artist was "an incredible musical talent and amazingly spiritual person". "I can only hope that South Africans can, in time, realise how amazing Busi's creative talent was and see how she was never given the commercial recognition I believed she was destined to achieve. Our thoughts are with her daughter and the Mhlongo Family".

An extraordinary woman

This belief in Mhlongo's talents is echoed by her longtime music publisher, Dave Alexander of Sheer Publishing. "In a word Busi was unique and an extraordinary woman," he commented.

"Always quiet and humble yet very confident about what she wanted to achieve and secure in her musical gifts, I will never forget the way she always called me 'my dear'. Busi will be sorely missed, as a composer, an artist and a larger-than-life personality."

Mhlongo lost her long battle against cancer on Tuesday, 15 June - ironically a day before South Africa celebrated Youth Day. "She had been fighting cancer for some time and, in recent months, had been at peace with her life and people she had interacted with over time," said Forbes.