By Celani Sikhakhane
- Buselaphi Gxowa will appear in season three of Shaka iLembe, a show about King Shaka’s life, rise to power and death in 1828.
- Born in Nongoma, Gxowa came from humble beginnings to join Imithente, becoming a household name in maskandi and earning a doctorate in music.
Maskandi legend Dr Buselaphi Gxowa has joined the cast of Shaka iLembe, the show about the life of King Shaka on Mzansi Magic.
She is already busy shooting season three and will play a singer of Zulu hymns. Her role takes place during the time of King Shaka’s death.
Shaka was assassinated in 1828 by his half-brothers Prince Mhlangana, Mbopha and King Dingane. The killing came after his increasingly harsh rule following the death of his mother, Queen Nandi. After Shaka’s death, Dingane took the throne and killed Mhlangana to secure power.
Produced by Bomb! for Mzansi Magic, Shaka iLembe is South Africa’s most expensive TV series. It tells the story of King Shaka from birth, through his rise to power, until his assassination.
Gxowa, who was born in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, has been a household name in maskandi for decades. She joined the female maskandi group Imithente in 1993 after being introduced by the late Simosakhe Mthalane.
Her path was not easy. Financial struggles forced her to pause her schooling for three years before completing matric. She later moved to Johannesburg, where she worked as a security guard before breaking into music.
She has since become one of the most respected names in traditional music and was honoured with a Doctoral Degree by the University of Zululand.
Pictured above: Maskandi veteran Dr Buselaphi Gxowa joins Shaka iLembe.
Image source: Gallo Music
