Music Icon Babsy Mlangeni Passes Away at 83

Johannesburg – Renowned South African music icon Babsy Mlangeni has passed away at the age of 83 after a brief illness.

Blind since early childhood, Mlangeni dedicated over fifty years to his craft, emerging as a notable singer, guitarist, composer, and songwriter.

He kickstarted his professional music journey in 1968.

Mlangeni rose to fame with his hit song Sala Emma, which significantly boosted his career.

His impressive body of work features titles such as Special Angel, Isiphukuphuku, African Woman, Music Was Born in Africa, Botswana, Isithembu, Come A Little Closer, Ba Kae, and O Rapele.

Mlangeni’s impact on South African music has been widely acknowledged; he received a lifetime achievement award from the South African Music Awards in 2017, followed by another prestigious lifetime accolade at the National Arts and Culture Awards in May 2025.