Top star loved for nurturing other artists
THE Eastern Cape gospel fraternity is mourning singer Nobandla Linda Mangisa, who died in Butterworth Hospital on Saturday night after a car accident.
She was 35 years old.
Mangisa was travelling to Cofimvaba on the N2 from Butterworth to attend an overnight vigil for the mother of one of her backing singers, who was to be buried on Sunday.
Her brother Sibongiseni Mangisa said his sister had hitched a lift in a Toyota Avanza. The accident happened at about 6pm just before the Ndabakazi junction.
“There were three seriously injured people but she was the only one who died,” he said.
Mangisa was born in Tsojana village outside Tsomo but was staying at Mahlubini village near Cofimvaba.
In early 2000 she founded a gospel group Nobandla Gospel Group and was the lead singer. Their debut album, Nakanye, was released in 2003.
A popular tune is Inkonzo Yasengqondweni on the 2005 album Vulindlela.
Mangisa travelled the country preaching through her music.
Her father, Mzwamadoda Mangisa, said the family was still trying to come to terms with the sudden death of their beloved sister, mother and daughter.
“She was our pillar of strength. Linda was everything to us. She was our only daughter and the first-born of five children. This is a big blow to us. It was only in March that my son died,” said Mzwamadoda from his Tsojana home in Tsomo yesterday.
Nobandla, a mother of three, died just a few days before the release of her eighth album, Ndijongiwe Ngamazulu, which features 14 songs.
Despite her death, the album will be released as planned.
Gospel artists including Lusanda Mcinga, Kholeka Sosimo, Bethusile and Blessed Men, as well music promoters like Siyabonga Hollyman Ndumbu, expressed shock at her untimely death.
“So young a soul lost in this manner,” said Mcinga. “There were artists that looked upon her as their role model. She was assisting the development of young artists.”
Mcinga, who was travelling from King William’s Town to Mthatha after the accident, gave support to Mangisa’s family members.
Ndumbu described Mangisa as a rare breed of artist who worked hard at developing others in her areas of Cofimvaba and Tsomo.
“She was mentoring young and up-and-coming artists ... She was networking not only for herself but for many gospel singers,” said Ndumbu.
Blessed Men’s Mqweno Songelwa said they were all shocked at the death of the woman who established their group.
“She was like a mother to us. She had supported us. But we must, even if we are traumatised, welcome God’s decision,” said Songelwa.
Mangisa will be buried in Tsojana village near Tsomo on October 12 and her memorial service will be on October 9 in Cofimvaba.
She is survived by her three children, three siblings and both parents. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
Gospel singer killed in crash
THE Eastern Cape gospel fraternity is mourning singer Nobandla Linda Mangisa, who died in Butterworth Hospital on Saturday night after a car accident.
She was 35 years old.
Mangisa was travelling to Cofimvaba on the N2 from Butterworth to attend an overnight vigil for the mother of one of her backing singers, who was to be buried on Sunday.
Her brother Sibongiseni Mangisa said his sister had hitched a lift in a Toyota Avanza. The accident happened at about 6pm just before the Ndabakazi junction.
“There were three seriously injured people but she was the only one who died,” he said.
Mangisa was born in Tsojana village outside Tsomo but was staying at Mahlubini village near Cofimvaba.
In early 2000 she founded a gospel group Nobandla Gospel Group and was the lead singer. Their debut album, Nakanye, was released in 2003.
A popular tune is Inkonzo Yasengqondweni on the 2005 album Vulindlela.
Mangisa travelled the country preaching through her music.
Her father, Mzwamadoda Mangisa, said the family was still trying to come to terms with the sudden death of their beloved sister, mother and daughter.
“She was our pillar of strength. Linda was everything to us. She was our only daughter and the first-born of five children. This is a big blow to us. It was only in March that my son died,” said Mzwamadoda from his Tsojana home in Tsomo yesterday.
Nobandla, a mother of three, died just a few days before the release of her eighth album, Ndijongiwe Ngamazulu, which features 14 songs.
Despite her death, the album will be released as planned.
Gospel artists including Lusanda Mcinga, Kholeka Sosimo, Bethusile and Blessed Men, as well music promoters like Siyabonga Hollyman Ndumbu, expressed shock at her untimely death.
“So young a soul lost in this manner,” said Mcinga. “There were artists that looked upon her as their role model. She was assisting the development of young artists.”
Mcinga, who was travelling from King William’s Town to Mthatha after the accident, gave support to Mangisa’s family members.
Ndumbu described Mangisa as a rare breed of artist who worked hard at developing others in her areas of Cofimvaba and Tsomo.
“She was mentoring young and up-and-coming artists ... She was networking not only for herself but for many gospel singers,” said Ndumbu.
Blessed Men’s Mqweno Songelwa said they were all shocked at the death of the woman who established their group.
“She was like a mother to us. She had supported us. But we must, even if we are traumatised, welcome God’s decision,” said Songelwa.
Mangisa will be buried in Tsojana village near Tsomo on October 12 and her memorial service will be on October 9 in Cofimvaba.
She is survived by her three children, three siblings and both parents. — lulamilef@dispatch.co.za
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