Bapsy Mlangeni: Alive and kicking

Chippa Legodimo | Thursday October 2, 2014 12:49

As I went through Facebook last week, I came across an advert on a friend’s timeline promoting The Legends Music Festival at Millennium Restaurant in Mogoditshane.  One of the names that struck me was that of Bapsy Mlangeni. “Ah, this man is still alive,” I exclaimed as I enlarged the picture to see properly.

The other four names in the advert did not strike me as such, for I had recently attended a show where Neo Maphaka, the former CJB lead singer featured.  Also I am friends with Thabile Mazolwana, Table Madiba and Phamela Nkutha on Facebook.

Only two names excited me, Mlangeni and Peter Mokoena. Mokoena is the man who made Rebecca Malope a big star and revived Brenda Fassie’s career with the hit Vulindlela.  I will say my curiosity was fed when I finally met these two great artists in Tlokweng on Saturday.

Clad in blue Lacoste pants with matching check blue and white shirt nicely tucked in, Mlangeni looked immaculate with his black glasses and shinny black shoes.

He is a free spirit. Within minutes of our introductions it felt like I had known the legendary musician for years.  He joked about how he used to have women following him during his tours of Botswana in the 1970 and ‘80s  “I used to take five to my hotel room and chose the most beautiful one once I got there,” the blind musician said.

“So you thought I was dead.  No, I take good care of myself,” he said before bursting into a naughty laugh. Nothing suggests that Mlangeni is in his 70s. He is so full of energy that one could be forgiven for mistaking him for a 50-something-year-old.

Mlangeni lost his eyesight at the age of three and he does not know what happened.  Ironically he has never bothered to understand because disability is not inability, he said.

“I released a hit song called Sala Emma in 1967 and by the end of 1968 it was the biggest hit in South Africa, but I was blind,” he said.

Mlangeni toured Southern Africa as the demand for his music grew in the ‘70s, but his dream of going oversees was frustrated by the apartheid regime.  The oppressive government was concerned that the more musicians toured powerful western countries the greater the threat to their rule. “After Hugh Masekela, Mariam Makeba and others went oversees and spread the word about the regime, it made it difficult for other musicians as they tried to control the damage.  I would have been something else,” he said.

Despite being denied the chance to go oversees, Mlangeni continued to shine. He got married to Emma, the woman who he dedicated his blockbuster song to.

Mlangeni regards himself as pioneer in many respects.  For instance he proudly boasts of being the engineer of Afro-Soul.

“I used to listen to stars like Elvis Presley and Percy Sledge and when I started music I followed their line, but with an African touch.  I was the first black person in Soweto to be granted a liquor licence and I opened Club 2000 and a supermarket in the same complex,” he said.

Music had opened avenues for Mlangeni.  Not only was he riding the crest of the wave of music, he also emerged as a respected black businessman.

History was to be reversed when his marriage crumbled and his business and career tumbled. “As a blind person you rely on someone else for everything and when they mess up there is little you can do,” Mlangeni said. Years passed by and his music was steadily forgotten, as new genres took over his own style took a backseat.  Interest in his work waned.

“Music revolves, first it was Mqashiwe, which was invented by Mahlathini (Moses Nkabinde).  Then Marabi by the likes of Kori Moraba and so forth. Then other new genres like Afro-pop, Disco and Kwaito emerged and this was inevitable,” Mlangeni reasoned.

As the winds of change blew from all directions Mlangeni decided to retreat and recharge his batteries.  After two decades of no production he returned with a new album in 2001, Aukho Mzebenzi, which he admits never created much fanfare.

He tried again in 2005 with Mampara Song, but still struggled to reignite that ‘60s magic.

Six years later the legendary musician attempted to bounce back, but due to lack of funds could not complete the project.

“I only completed my new album called Ba Kae recently, but I am not releasing it until next year because I do not want it to get lost in the Christmas rush. 

To many who are not familiar with my music I would be like a new musician.  So I need to be strategic.  Everybody will be trying to capitalise on the festive,” he said.

In the title track Mlangeni reminisces about the good old times, wondering where his childhood friends might be as well as the fans that used to cheer him on.

This track, perhaps, answers the same question oh his whereabouts. The sixteen axed Generations actors at a press conference.

(GALLO IMAGES)