Busi Mhlongo
South Africa’s urban punk king"
URBAN ZULU
Shaping of a
Global Sound
“Busi Mhlongo redefined traditional Zulu music with a fearless blend of Maskandi, funk, rock, and reggae. Her voice, her spirit, and her sound continue to inspire artists and audiences across the world.”
An Album that Pushed Boundaries
A masterpiece that continues to inspire artists worldwide.
About
Busi Mhlongo
In 1998, four years after South Africa emerged from its political pariah status, the male-dominated genre of maskanda underwent a transformative shift. Maskanda, deeply rooted in the migrant labor system, traditionally reflected urbanization and labor commodification through a male-centric lens. However, Victoria Busisiswe Mhlongo, an exceptional Inanda-born singer, disrupted this narrative with her groundbreaking album, Urban Zulu. This late-career masterpiece symbolized her fluid and urbane artistic identity.
Creating Urbanzulu:
A Precarious Journey
The creation of Urbanzulu was fraught with creative clashes and challenges. Mhlongo worked with producer Will Mowat, guitarist Mkhalelwa Spector Ngwazi, and bassist Themba Mcana to blend maskanda’s traditional roots with her innovative vision. These sessions navigated political upheaval and tested Mhlongo’s adaptability to maskanda’s complex rhythms. Despite early difficulties, Mhlongo’s emotive delivery and intuitive connection to the album’s themes elevated it to groundbreaking heights.
Making of the urbanzulu album
“Recordings first took place at Downtown Studios in Johannesburg in 1996 and continued in Durban and London throughout 1997. My production approach has always been “interventionist”: I record as much material as possible, then retire to my studio to pull everything apart and reassemble it to fashion a coherent product that best represents the artist and gives their career the best chance to succeed.”
Will Mowat
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UrbanZulu
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