The Story of Mam Busi Mhlongo is more than a musical and biographical documentary of a vocalist who against all odds chartered a legendary path from semi-rural KZN roots to the top of the world charts. This is the documentary of a trail blazing woman changing the playing fields for generations to come.

Busi is a pioneer in a musical genre known as world music, a combination of travel and music. My first encounter with Busi was in 1994 at the Awesome Africa festival. The deep Zulu roots, the stirring Shembe invocations together with the driving funk and Pan African rhythms of her performance broadened my horizons. And as a widely collaborative artist, Busi’s career touched meaningfully on a whole generation of great Zulu musicians from Princess Magogo to Bheki Mseleku, Madala Kunene, Doc Mthalane and Mshaks Gaza. This story has the potential to open the eyes and ears, hearts and minds of audiences to the vibrant and diverse music and film culture of KwaZulu Natal. Using the horizontal approach of collaboration and agency in the film making process for collaborators, co-operators and competitors alike, with the goal of making a profound impact in the lives of future creatives.

“To the many wonderful souls who crossed multiple bridges of troubled waters with me,” Busi Mhlongo

Urban Zulu is an internationally resonant theme of a trail blazing woman, overcoming racism of apartheid, patriarchy in the music industry and personal struggles to become an international sound sensation. Despite the stringent patriarchy of the old South Africa, Busi breaks barriers for African female band leaders. The impact of elevating such a pioneering female voice onto screen is a powerful reconnection of young people with their heritage. The story resonates widely not only with the youth of her region, the Ngoma groups of Kwa Zulu Natal, the youth centres of Inanda and scholars of her Ohlange High School, but everyone with an interest in “transcendence.” Transcendence is change. Change of one-self, change for audiences and ultimately change to the socio-political constructs that depressed and oppressed generations. This film project completed Development phase during 2025 and is currently in pre-production. A great deal of thanks to Vusi Mchunu, co-originator of this project, Rehad Desai, director of the project, Steve Dyer composer, the NFVF documentary and festival and markets teams, the Movies that Matter and Durban Film Mart teams, Katja Draaijer of Submarine, Dutch director Ton van der Lee. Gratitude to family and friends, Leoni Jansen, Sifiso Khumalo, Madala Kunene, Letta Mbulu. Busi’s life’s work and legacy had never been significantly memorialised, until this moment. Busi’s life stands as a testimony to women’s rights, breast cancer awareness, and a female band leader. Her story connects to broader global issues of Black Woman Power and unleashing our creative expression and is a soundtrack to the miracle peaceful transformation of South Africa.

Having lived 16 years in exile in Portugal, London, Toronto and the Netherlands, Mam Busi has created a large and distinguished network of trustees from her family homestead in Inanda to her record label and testimonial trust in Durban and her former colleagues and co-production partners in the Netherlands and her family and relatives of KZN.

The biographical documentary draws on interviews and research with family, collaborating musicians, and musical children. The documentary features three main characters Dr Madala Kunene, Thandiswa Mazwai and Leoni Jansen.

Dr. Madala Kunene Guitarist. He first met Busi in 1965. He is Supportive and well loved Zulu musician. His band Sanusi was a forerunner to Twasa. Oldest friend of Busi Mhlongo. Age: 79 Occupation: Guitarist Background: He first met Busi in 1965 collaborator and friend. Personality Traits: Supportive and well-loved Zulu musician, known internationally as the King of the Zulu Guitar. Received a double honorary doctorate to his contribution in creating his own musical form Madalaline Music and is a lifetime achiever with Ikhamanga, Van Toeke and multiple other awards. Role in the Story: Oldest living friend of Busi Mhlongo. 1.) They meet in 1965 at the Bat Fair in Kwa Mashu. Both are 18 years of age and immediately become friends. Busi’s voice is immediately outstanding. She is singing the hit My Boy Lollipop. 2.) They reconnect 1983 when Busi returns to KZN. Madala is band leader of iZanusi with Doc Mthalane, Bernard Mndaweni and others. Doc and Busi come together with Susan Barry to form iTwasa. Busi is like a sister to Madala. 3.) In 1995 Busi and Madala begin to work closely together as part of the Melt2000 recording label and collaborate and cross pollinate on many projects. 4.) In 2005 Madala is a confidante to Busi as she begins to settle her life journey first through rehabilitation from gambling addiction and then the formation of her family trust. 5.) Madala is the composer of two of Busi’s songs Pesheya and Afrika Nithini Na

Thandiswa Mazwai is a musical child of Busi Mhlongo. Age: 50 Occupation: Vocalist Recording Artist Background: Raised in Soweto, like Busi she has a church choir and theatre background. She collaborated with Busi on live performances. Personality Traits: As founding member of kwaito revolution, she is a visionary and revolutionary. Role in the Story: Thandiswa is a musical child to Busi, former friend of Hugh Masekela and close friend and collaborator of Madala Kunene. Discussions with her should ensue on 1.) The role of friends in sustaining and maintaining a career in music as female band leader 2.) The role of Hugh Masekela and other friends in Busis rehabilitation. 3.) Guardian of an ancient Zulu Culture – Busi’s pilgrimage to her culture as an inspiration for her own pilgrimage to her mother’s home village in the Transkei, moving on to spend a fortnight in Mkhankato, Madosini’s village in the heart of rural Transkei. Here she was exposed to the original sounds of Xhosa traditional melodies, and was introduced to the Uhadi, a traditional Xhosa one-string harp.

Leoni Jansen Vocalist, composer, producer. Close friend, contemporary and collaborator to Busi. Worked on Pan African Women voice projects together. Called the Female Factory. Had a strong friendship in Holland. She attended the Melkweg Concerts and sung an intimate personal composition to Busi at the 2007 SABC Vuka Sizwe Benefit Concert. Age:70s Occupation: Vocalist, composer, producer Background: Collaborator and friend to Busi for over 10 years. Personality Traits: Musician from Holland with a huge soul for African music. Role in the Story: Close friend, contemporary and collaborator to Busi. Worked on Pan African Women voice projects together. Called the Female Factory. Had a strong friendship in Holland. She attended the Melkweg Concerts and sung an intimate personal composition to Busi at the 2007 SABC Vuka Sizwe Benefit Concert. Discussions are to ensue regarding. 1.) What is it like to be a leading female voice 2.) What about Busi’s voice 2.) Cancer Awareness Campaign

Additional voices are made up by DJ Black Coffee, Steven and Neil Comfort, Susan Barry and Bernard Mndaweni, Prince Zulu, Iva Mitchell, Henk Tummers, Brice Wassy, Kathryn Olsen, Giselle Turner, Busi Mhlongo family and friends.

“Going to a Busi concert was like being branded. It was like a ring of fire that was placed on your forehead or your butt or wherever. But you came away burnt. You were branded. You'd seen that concert. You'd been in that moment.” Giselle Turner

The rich musical soundtrack depicts Busi’s Urban Zulu musical approach in the context of South Africa’s transformation to New South Africa. Central to the documentary is a very interactive musical engagement with her sound. The soundtrack, together with translations to key lyrics depict her messages as the guide to her journey.

Music drives her life journey. The film soundtrack weaves together the whirl-wind of her career through the music, lyrics, philosophy, style, dance and fashion to guide her character arc from early stardom to a career singing covers in exile to a healing through her Zulu music roots and musical collaborations with generations of gifted musicians to reawaken the legacy of an enduring symbol of authenticity and afro-futurism.