Loving, talented, and a true Kwaito queen – these are the words that rang out from speaker after speaker at the memorial service of the late Nomasonto Mshoza Maswanganyi at the Bassline in Newtown, Johannesburg, on Wednesday.
She died at the Far East Rand Hospital in Gauteng last Thursday. Mshoza had been in and out of hospital getting treatment for diabetes.
She rose to fame as the First Lady of Kwaito with her smash hit “Kortes” in the early 2000s. Mshoza also collaborated with stars such as Mzambiya and Msawawa.
Friends, family, fans, and those in the industry gathered to pay tribute to the queen of Kwaito. She would have been celebrating 20 years in the industry this year.
Mzambiya, who collaborated with Mshoza in the hit Kortes, says they met in 1998. “Normally after school, I would go there. Mshoza came with her friend, she came to me and said I like the way you do your music, your lyrical content. A few months later, we went to auditions and we recorded Kortes, then boom. Mshoza was a very bubbly person. As heartbroken as we are, let’s try and celebrate her nge njabula (with happiness). I have never seen her grumpy, spiritually she is here with us. My sister, rest in peace. You are loved.”
Mzambiya shares his moments with Mshoza:
Oscar Mlangeni from Bulldog Entertainment has known Mshoza since her teenage days. He says she had been the only girl in their music stable and that he always treated her like a little sister.
“It’s the hardest day of my life. She was a little sister. Many are called by only a few are chosen. We recorded Kortes 19 years ago and it was a hit. She was sweet and never moody. She was forever smiling, loved her dancers.”
Mshoza has been described as a bubbly person with a good heart. Zukisi M Zura Khuse from Ziyawa worked on Mshoza’s return album and is responsible for the hit single “Hlabalingene”.
“I went to an author and asked for the song, went to Bonsai and I combined two songs and made the hit. We had the master but no one wanted to sign it. DJ fresh was the only DJ to play that song. Everyone would call a radio station every day, to request Hlabalingene.”
Mshoza also had a record company and Dranco was one of the artists signed under her label. “Mshoza signed about 40 artists. She took care of everyone. We used to get paid every month.”
Mshoza was a versatile artist. Her spiritual side led to the release of Mshoza Nabafundisi and as Christian Heath explains, she also dabbled in rock.
“She wrote a song called Let me live my life, media-influenced….she was extremely talented and had a good heart.”
Musician Slovas hailed her achievements in the male-dominated industry. “She was intelligent and she was streetwise. That’s what sets her apart. “
Kwaito legend Mapaputsi says Mshoza lived kwaito and was a true definition of what kwaito is.
“Mandoza, is with her now, Brown Dash, Johny Clegg…her legacy will live. Let’s promote our local music. Sonto loved kwaito deeply; she’s from Zola and knows this is our lifestyle. Kwaito is culture, kwaito is South Africa.”
Mshoza will be laid to rest at the West Park cemetery in Johannesburg this Saturday.
Below is Mshoza’s memorial service:
