Langalakhe Mabena, [email protected]
THEATRE actor and director Willing Mhlanga, who cut his teeth at the late Cont Mhlanga’s Amakhosi Theatre, has died.
Mhlanga died on November 2 following a road accident.
He was among the artistes who emerged from Amakhosi Theatre, founded by the late legendary arts visionary Cont Mhlanga, and went on to build a career in the creative industry.
Beyond acting and directing, Mhlanga also made his mark in music, recording and performing as a vocalist alongside prominent artistes, including Zenzo Nyathi, Julian Tshuma and Simon Mhlanga.
With these artistes, they formed The Mighty Boys, a band which was under Amakhosi Theatre.
Fellow Amakhosi Productions artiste Zenzo Nyathi paid tribute to Mhlanga, recalling their recent encounters and expressing shock at his sudden death.
Nyathi said he had last interacted with the late actor a few days before his death, when Mhlanga visited him to buy paint. They spent time catching up, reminiscing about their experiences in theatre and discussing the possibility of returning to the stage together.
In a heartfelt tribute shared on social media, Nyathi also recalled seeing Mhlanga along Kami Road in Bulawayo last Friday, when the two exchanged waves, unaware that it would be their final interaction.
“Sbeko, S’bali, Mhlanga, Wie. Some two to three weeks ago you called and said, ‘Mfana Nyathi, yimalini ipenda kini lapho?’ And I told him. In about two or so hours, he was there buying paint.
We spoke for a long time, sithinta lokhu la lokhuya.
“Siqilana sisithi maybe someday we must go back on stage kesenze esasikwenza. Last Friday, I saw you again along Kami Road. We waved at each other, little did we know it was our last wave siphila.
“Yesterday night, I got the saddest news. You succumbed in a road accident, my brother, and that hit hard on me. Lamanje angazi kwazi ophezulu.
“Lala mfowethu, angazi ukuthi uKhumalo ‘Mbambo’ sengiyancediswa ngubani ukum’thena. Because bekuyimi lawe esazi ukumchumisa. Rest in peace, my brother,” said Nyathi.
More to follow……..
