African music has lost one of its enduring voices. South African singer, guitarist and composer Babsy Mlangeni has died at the age of 83 after a short illness.
His death on Friday, October 2, 2026, was reported by SABC News and confirmed by several South African outlets, including Eyewitness News and TimesLIVE. YEN.com.gh also carried the news.
Babsy Mlangeni was born Bernard Mlangeni in 1943 in Orlando East, Soweto, according to Eyewitness News. He lost his sight at the age of three and later attended the Athlone School for the Blind in Cape Town.
It was there that he learned to play the guitar. He went on to become a singer, guitarist and songwriter, building a career at a time when opportunities for blind artists, and for Black South African musicians under apartheid, were severely limited.
Mlangeni's breakthrough came in the early 1970s with Bua Nnete, which became one of the songs most closely associated with his name. His signature hit, Sala Emma, was inspired by his wife, Emma, Eyewitness News reports. He also recorded Botsotso among many other songs.
His career stretched across nearly six decades, and he kept performing into his later years. YEN.com.gh reports that he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the South African Music Awards in recognition of his contribution to the country's music.
Mlangeni came up in an era when Black South African musicians often recorded for low pay and had little control over their work, while radio and record labels were shaped by apartheid-era rules. Many artists of his generation never received fair royalties for songs that became hugely popular. That he built a career lasting nearly 60 years, despite those obstacles and his blindness, is a large part of why he is so widely respected.
Mlangeni was also known for helping others find their way in music. He mentored the late Steve Kekana, another visually impaired South African musician who went on to great success, including the 1980 hit Raising My Family, which became popular well beyond South Africa. Eyewitness News notes that Mlangeni is remembered for breaking barriers for blind artists in the entertainment industry.
News of his death drew warm tributes from fans across South Africa. YEN.com.gh highlighted messages from people who grew up listening to his music.
"I'm 60 now. I knew him from my childhood. He will always be remembered with his sense of humour," one fan, Papiki Mofokeng, wrote. Others shared memories of meeting him in person and offered condolences to his family. IOL also published fans' tributes under the line "Thank you for the music."
For many South Africans, Mlangeni's songs were part of the soundtrack of everyday life, played at home, on the radio and at family gatherings over several generations. His blend of storytelling, humour and melody gave his music a warmth that kept it popular long after its first release.
His story also matters beyond South Africa. Across the continent, including in Ghana, musicians living with disabilities still face barriers to recognition and fair pay. Mlangeni's long career is a reminder of what talent can achieve when it is given room to grow, and of the importance of mentorship in passing that chance on.
Babsy Mlangeni leaves behind a body of work that helped shape South African popular music and a legacy of opening doors for others. His family is expected to announce funeral arrangements in due course.
Talk Talk extends its condolences to his family, friends and fans.
