On Sunday morning South Africa lost a true music legend. Mduduzi Tshabalala, known by his stage name Mandoza, passed away after a brave battle with brain cancer.
He was 38 years old. The kwaito legend’s family confirmed that he passed away after being rushed to hospital early on Sunday morning.
It was the singer’s hit Nkalakatha that made him a household name in South Africa in 2001. The track became one of the most recognised songs on radio in the country and won the Song Of The Year category at the South African Music Awards in 2001.
Mandoza was born on 19 January 1978 in the Zola South section of Soweto.
When he was sixteen, he served a one-and-a-half-year sentence at Diepkloof Prison in Johannesburg for stealing a car.
When he was released from prison, he formed the group, Chiskop, along with three childhood friends: S’bu, Siphiwe and Sizwe.
Mandoza was discovered by kwaito musician and producer, Arthur Mafokate.
He started his solo career in 1999, with the release of his top-selling album 9II5 Zola South, for which he gained a 2000 FNB South African Music Awards Best Newcomer nomination.
He went on to release the album Nkalakatha in 2000, which achieved multi-platinum status. He later released another seven solo albums.
Following his nine studio albums, he decided to focus and spend time with his family.
The 38-year-old was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May of last year. The kwaito legend sadly lost his fight against cancer on Sunday, 18 September.
Mandoza leaves behind his wife, Mpho, and three sons, Tokollo, Thapelo and Tumelo.
Source: The Juice
!
