Veteran South African musician Bernard ‘Babsy’ Mlangeni has died at the age of 83 after a short illness.
Messages of condolence have been pouring in, with the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (Samro) also extending its condolences. The organisation described Mlangeni as an influential voice in South African music for nearly six decades, celebrated for classics such as “Sala Emma”, “Bua Nnete” and “Botsotso”.
Mlangeni spent more than five decades in the music industry. His distinctive voice and songs about love and life became part of the soundtrack of many South Africans’ lives.
Born in Orlando East, Soweto in 1943, he lost his sight at the age of three. He later went to the Athlone School for the Blind in Cape Town, where he learnt to play the guitar. There he also helped start a student band that became known as The All-Rounders.
The group’s sound helped to shape what became known as township soul, or South African soul. Mlangeni was its lead singer.
His best-known song, “Sala Emma”, was a tender Sesotho ballad that he wrote about his wife, Emma. It made him a household name and is still seen as his signature hit. The song reached people well beyond the Sesotho-speaking community.
“Bua Nnete”, which came out in the early 1970s, was another big moment in his career. More popular recordings followed, including Botsotso, Lonely Man and Umadlembathini.
Mlangeni sang in isiZulu, Sesotho and isiXhosa, which helped his music cross language and cultural lines. He built his career at a time when blind musicians faced many obstacles. Beyond singing, he was also a guitarist and composer.
His work was honoured multiple times. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the South African Music Awards in 2017, and another at the National Arts and Culture Awards in 2025.
Mlangeni also made time for the next generation and mentored fellow visually impaired musician Steve Kekana.
His songs, which span several decades, remain an important part of South Africa’s rich musical heritage.
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