Mandoza’s sons step up to help umama

MANDOZA’S widow Mpho Tshabalala has made it her life’s mission to continue her late husband’s legacy.

In the past two years, the South Africa reality TV star has produced a biopic and merchandise for Mandoza.

Now, she is working on a musical called The Road to Nkalankatha, which will be held at the Soweto Theatre in Jabulani, Soweto, on 18 September.

She told Daily Sun that continuing the singer’s legacy was her way of dealing with his passing.

“In my state of grief, I found that grief is just about finding a balance. To grieve the person and continue living. This is my path of continuing to live. To push his legacy, this is how I choose to live my life,” she said.

 

She said this is leading up to a big show they want to do next year.

“Nkalakatha is turning 25 next year. I’ve been celebrating it every year, but this year I wanted to do something that’s never been done, a kwaito musical. This musical will just be the beginning, leading up to the Mandoza tribute show which will be next year. As much as we’re celebrating the song, his collaborations on the album weren’t celebrated.

“We’ll have musicians he featured on his album such as Pitch Black Afro, Jaziel Brothers, Mdu Masilela, and more. Mandoza’s sons, Tokollo and Tumelo, will be performing as their dad. It will be launched in Gauteng, but it will go to other provinces as well,” said Mpho.

She said the musical will feel real.

“It’s amazing. You’ll see that the legacy continues. And the family members will be part of the cast. A bit of acting and a lot of music. I wanted it to be different from the biopic because there was a lot of acting. Soweto’s where things began for Mandoza. Let’s go back to the 90s and early 2000s from the dress code and the music element.

“This will also encourage people to go back to the theatre. Music and arts are our thing as black people. So, come and enjoy,” the reality TV star said.

Tokollo and Tumelo will also be performing at the DStv Delicious International Food & Music Festival.

“From the time they told us about this, I had goosebumps. When Mduduzi left us, the boys were young, and I wondered if I could raise them right. But it seems I’ve done it right. They can see what I’m doing with the legacy, and this is their legacy. They want to hold hands and continue helping me,” Mpho said.

Mandoza, real name Mduduzi Tshabalala, died in 2016 after a year-long battle with cancer. (www.snl24.com)