Mshoza's death: what really caused the kwaito star's passing?
Mshoza's death in November 2020 after battling a chronic illness was a major loss to the kwaito industry. The singer had been in show business since the 1990s and dominated the scene with her vibrant personality. According to Oscar Mlangeni, who discovered her and produced her songs:
She was a complete package, both as a singer and dancer.
Source: Getty Images
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Key takeaways
- Mshoza's cause of death was revealed to be diabetes complications, which she had been treating since being diagnosed in 2014.
- The Soweto-born singer burst into the male-dominated kwaito scene in the early 2000s with her smash hit Kortes, and quickly earned the title, The First Lady of Kwaito.
- She left behind two children, Pride and Jacob Jr., from her marriage to Mpumalanga businessman Jacob Mnisi.
Mshoza's profile summary
| Real name | Nomasonto Maswanganyi |
| Date of birth | January 7, 1983 |
| Place of birth | Protea North, Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Date of death | November 19, 2020 |
| Age at death | 37 years old |
| Husbands | Jacob Mnisi (2007-2011)Thuthukani Mvula (2017-2018)Prince Dlamini (2020) |
| Children | Pride Mnisi, Jacob Jr. Mnisi |
| Parents | Richmond Maphumulo, Gloria Maswanganyi Mafuma |
| Siblings | Thandi Maswanganyi, Seipati Maswanganyi |
| Profession | Singer, dancer |
| Genre | Kwaito |
| Social media |
Mshoza died after a silent fight with diabetes
The Kortes hitmaker passed away on November 19, 2020, at the Far East Rand Hospital in Gauteng from diabetes related complications. She was diagnosed with the chronic ailment in 2014. Her long-term manager, Thanduxolo Jindela, told Sowetan Live in 2020 that she had been receiving treatment but kept it out of the spotlight.
There is Mshoza that everyone loves and knows. Then there is Nomasonto, and she didn't like such things to be known.
Mshoza was buried at Westpark Cemetery in Montgomery Park, Johannesburg, after a star-studded funeral service at House of Treasures Ministries. Her tombstone features a life-size image of her stepping on a globe, dressed in a white and gold outfit with white Converse sneakers.
Source: Original
Mshoza's rise to a kwaito star
Nomasonto was a child star who started performing at the age of 10. She was the lead actress of her school's play, Sarafina, and became the lead singer of a local Soweto choir. From 1998 to 1999, she was a dancer for the iconic four-member kwaito group Chiskop.
Mshoza won SABC1's Jam Alley freestyle competition in mid-1999, where she was noticed by the show's presenter Nimrod Nkosi and producer Oscar Mlangeni. In his tribute to the singer, Mlangeni said he was impressed by her talent and passion.
I just could not believe that a female artist could handle kwaito like men do. It was just an amazing sight.
Source: Instagram
Mshoza signed with Bull Dawgs and released her first album, BullDwagz First Lady, in 2002. She gained recognition with the album's hit song Kortes featuring Mzambiya. She continued to define the male-dominated kwaito with her second album Bhoza (2003), which had the hits My Angel, Umshoza Yibhoza, and Piti.
Her third album, The Return, came out in 2005. The singer collaborated with major South African artists like Brenda Fassie, Bongo Maffin, Msawawa, Mzambiya, and Thembi Seete. After taking a hiatus from music, she returned in 2016 with her single, Abantu Bam, and released her last song, 'Not Ngo Sonto', in 2019.
Source: Getty Images
Mshazo had humble beginnings in Soweto
The kwaito star was born on January 7, 1983, in Soweto, Gauteng, to Richmond Maphumulo and Gloria Maswanganyi, who worked as a police officer. She was raised in Protea North, Soweto, by her grandparents. Mshoza started living with her mother and stepdad in Green Village as a teenager after her grandmother passed away.
The Abantu Bam hitmaker had two sisters, including Thandi Maswanganyi and Seipati Maswanganyi. Their mother, Gloria, passed away in June 2017 after being hospitalised for lung and heart problems.
Source: Instagram
Mshoza was married three times
Nomasonto married her first husband, Mpumalanga businessman Jacob Mnisi, in 2007. They divorced four years later in 2011 amid accusations of extramarital affairs from both parties.
The kwaito singer tied the knot with KwaZulu-Natal construction tycoon Thuthukani Mvula in 2017. Their marriage ended the following year after Mshoza accused him of domestic abuse. Mshoza briefly dated the late Mamelodi Sundowns player Anele Ngcongca after their separation.
In February 2020, the singer married East Rand businessman Prince Dlamini, at a low-key Home Affairs ceremony in Johannesburg. The pair split a few months before her death, but Prince revealed in an interview with the Daily Sun that they were about to reconcile and have a second marriage ceremony in December 2020.
Source: Twitter
Mshoza left behind two kids
The Hlaba Lingene hitmaker welcomed daughter Pride Mnisi and son Jacob Jr. Mnisi during her marriage to businessman Jacob Mnisi. She was protective of the kids and tried to shield them from the spotlight.
The late singer's sister, Thandi Maswanganyi, told TshisaLive in June 2022 that they had not seen the children since Mnisi took them in 2020 after her death. She did not take legal action because of lack of funds.
Mshoza's ex-husband confirmed to Sunday World in 2022 that he kept them away because they were telling them "nonsense about him." He said that he would allow them to see the kids if they stopped their "shenanigans".
Source: Instagram
Final word
Mshoza's death was a huge blow to the South African entertainment industry, but her legacy lives on through her music. She will be remembered for her lyrical prowess and for embodying the kwaito sound throughout her career.
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Source: Briefly News
