Babsy still bubbles
“The arts,” says Mlangeni philosophically with a toothy smile, “just like life, is all about change and being innovative and adaptive to change and accepting the change.”
Once hailed as one of the country’s most popular performing local male vocalists, Babsy Mlangeni, the Katlehong-based, blind singer, is not perturbed by his fading fame in his twilight years.
The gracefully ageing showbiz legend, who is behind such hits as “Sala Emma”, still sings and records his own music, which can be heard on many SABC radio stations.
Mlangeni told Kathorus MAIL that he is at peace with himself and is comfortable with the fact that his musical career was part of the progressive changes in local music for over five decades.
“We were influenced by an era that was made popular by those who came before us, while they too were instruments of change influenced by those before them. I and many others of my era were just instruments of change, and our musical talent and contribution, together with its influence on the local entertainment scene, were simply a part of a revolutionary progress of the arts in South Africa,” he said, proudly recalling the golden era of his career.
Catapulted into fame as the first local “soul” musicians of the late ’60s, Mlangeni and his peers emerged from the era of bell-bottoms, Dashiki shirts and Afros. But he says he finds “absolutely nothing wrong” with the current “two-bars” local music.
“The arts,” says Mlangeni philosophically with a toothy smile, “just like life, is all about change and being innovative and adaptive to change and accepting the change.”
As someone whose peers are well past their “sell-by” date, Mlangeni believes he is still as forceful and creative as he ever was.
Two of his latest CDs, released in September and December 2016, are aptly titled “Malibongwe” and “Bakae”. They are both likely to revive the ageing star’s popularity among many of his older fans and attract younger followers.
Mlangeni believes he and his fellow blind stage star and vocalist, Steve Kekane, are the only two local music veterans who have the ability and style to create a new avenue for local music.
“All we need to do is to think and be creative,” said Mlangeni.
Presently, Mlangeni and his old friend and fellow singer, Willie Hlatshwayo, 58, are engaged in a music project which they prefer to keep under wraps at this stage. “We shall reveal all at the right moment,” said Mlangeni.
