South Africa’s music industry, mourns the death of an artist; kwaito artist Mshoza, who passed away recently, at the age of 37.
Controversial singer Nomasonto Maswangayi aka Mshoza is no more. According to family members, she passed away, after a long illness. In March, she tested positive for COVID-19; and announced her fears as she was also diabetic.
The outspoken musician, who was best known for her hit song “Kortes” was only 37-years-old. The cause of her death has not yet been ascertained; but it is reported that she was undergoing treatment at the Far East Rand Hospital in Johannesburg. South Africans and the broader music industry have paid their heartfelt tributes to the artist on various social media platforms.
Kortes
OkayAfrica’s Sabelo Mkhabela describes Mshoza’s “Kortes”, which was released more than a decade ago, as “one of her best works” and adds that “an R&B influence on the production and some autotune on the hook made for one of the most perfect kwaito songs of all time.” Despite the anthemic nature of the song, it never received any awards.
Mshoza, however, was nominated for “Best Kwaito Single” by the Metro FM Music Awards back in 2017; following the release of her wildly successful single titled “Abantu Bam'”. The nomination was the artist’s first-ever; and came after she had been in the music industry for a whopping 18 years.
Mshoza was certainly right up there with fellow kwaito legends the likes of the late Lebo Mathosa, Thembi Seethe, and many of her male counterparts both alive and those who have passed on. Her outspoken nature on issues such as gender-based violence (GBV) and domestic abuse made her stand head-and-shoulders above the rest of may of her peers.
Mshoza is a mother of two and she’ll be remembered as one of the most influential musician of her generation.
RIP Mshoza!