Lebo Mathosa Biography, Songs, Mother, Sister, Awards, Death and Accident

Lebo Mathosa Biography

Lebo Mathosa was born on 17th July 1977 in Germiston, East Rand in South Africa and died on 23rd October 2006. She was a South African Kwaito musician.

Born to Nomvula Magdeline and Madimetsha Gerriet Mathosa in Daveyton, a small town just outside Johannesburg, the family later moved to Pietersburg and then Johannesburg, where Mathosa attended St Mary’s high school.

Lebo Mathosa Career

Mathosa started singing in her local church choir at the age of seven. But it was not until the family moved to Johannesburg that the teenage Mathosa discovered a music that was different from gospel hymns.

Mathosa was entranced by the disco-infused bubblegum music fronted by the likes of Fassie and Yvonne Chaka Chaka. Aged 14, her dance style attracted the attention of a key Johannesburg DJ, and Fassie also took the young singer under her wing, proclaiming that she would be the next Brenda Fassie.

When the opportunity arose to join the new band, Boom Shaka – with the rappers Theo Nhlengethwa and Thembi Seete – Mathosa jumped at it. It was an instant success. Her dance routine and short skirts also caused controversy – and offended those who chose to be shocked by daring teenagers. Their first album It’s About Time, was released in 1996 and three more followed, with a controversial final album in 1998 when they added dance beats into a version of the South African national anthem.

In 1999, Mathosa went solo and her solo debut album, Dream, was released in mid-2000. Despite her solo debut album winning three national music awards in 2001, the album was not a commercial success. That same year, Mathosa performed in Trafalgar Square at an event to celebrate South Africa’s establishment of multiracial democracy and at a South African edition of the North Sea Jazz Festival. Television and film roles soon materialised with acting and singing roles in the TV soap operas, Generations, Backstage and Muvhango, and the film Soldiers of The Rock (2003).

There had been a four-year hiatus between Dream and Drama Queen, her next album and there were rumours that she was dead. The new release saw Mathosa mixing styles, and some saw its title as an appropriate comment on a lifestyle of tantrums, fast cars, bisexuality and alcohol. Drama Queen was a number one South African hit and took her into the society pages of newspapers across the continent. Her status was confirmed with her appearance in the South African production of The Vagina Monologues in 2004.

In 2004 she topped the charts and made history when she was nominated in the Best African Act category of the UK’s Music of Black Origin (MOBO) awards.

In 2005 her third album, Lioness, was released. She sang for Nelson Mandela at his 85th birthday and was a star performer at MTV’s launch of its first African music channel in Johannesburg.

In 2006, she was nominated for a British Music of Black Origin (Mobo) best African act award. She was putting finishing touches to her fourth album at the time of her death.

Lebo Mathosa Acting Career

She tried her hand in acting and she got a role to play in the local soapie ‘Muvhango’

Lebo Mathosa Nominations and Awards

Nominations

• 2006 she was nominated for a British MOBO Award for the Best African Act category.
• She was nominated by FHM magazine as one of Africa’s sexiest women.

Awards

• 2001: Best dance album ‘Dream’ at South African Music Award
• 2001: Best Female Vocalist for her album ‘Dream’ at South African Music Award.
• 2001: Best Dressed Woman of the year at Style Awards
• 2004: Best Dance Album ‘Drama Queen’at South Africa Music Awards

Lebo Mathosa Death – Lebo Mathosa Accident

On 23rd October 2006, Lebo was travelling with her driver when he lost control of the car, leading to hem crashing into a tree.

Photo

Lebo Mathosa

Lebo Mathosa Mother

She was born to Nomvula Magdeline and Madimetsha Gerriet Mathosa. Her father died in August 2006. She is survived by her mother and a sister.

Lebo Mathosa Albums

• 2000: Dream
• 2004: Drama Queen
• 2006: Lioness.

Lebo Mathosa Songs

1. I love Music
2. Ntozabantu
3. Tsodiyo
4. Ditaba
5. Au Dede
6. Ngi Fun’ukugana
7. Bambanani
8. Take Me There
9. It’s About Time
10. Ngiyakhutanda
11. Motlogeleng
12. Mabhubesi
13. Bran New Day
14. Siyaziwisa
15. Siya Zala Kanjani
16. I’ll Meet You In The Long Run
17. Don’t Need No Reason
18. Should Have Been Me
19. Bayangihleka
20. Base Ntabeni Ogogo
21. Ae Ye Teng
22. Dance to the Music
23. Oh Jehova
24. Spiritual Freedom
25. Feel the Heat
26. Yadlala Ngam’ Indoda
27. Tease Me
28. Ma Africa
29. First Time lalala
30. Dangerous
31. Don’t Need No Reason
32. Nothing Can Stop the Feeling

Lebo Mathosa Video