This day 27th February 3 years ago (in 2006), TK Mhinga was found dead at approximately 13:30 by hotel staff, after she failed to answer their calls. 3 years down the line her music is still played by some radio stations. Join me as I pay tribute to one of the vocally talented musician South Africa and Africa has ever seen/heard.
She was born Tsakani "TK" Mhinga in 1979 and as mentioned, passed on the 27th of February 2006.
This article is not about the cause of her death, its about celebrating a woman loved by many and “hated” by “few”. At the time of her death she was a SAMA and MetroFM award winning artist. According to Wikipedia she was a princess of the baTsonga tribe of the Limpopo Province, as well as the niece of veteran South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka.
Her first taste of the music industry came from her collaborations with rapper Mizchif. Her father was opposed to her being a singer, hence she launched her solo musical career without telling her family, with her debut album, TKO, in 2000.This was followed in 2001 by a second album, Tsakani. In 2002, TK performed with international act Foxy Brown at the Gauteng R&B Hip Hop Festival and opened for Keith Sweat and Deborah Cox on their South African concerts. TK was also a participant in Celebrity Big Brother UK during that year.
I became a fan of her music when she released Her third and last studio album, Black Butterfly in 2003. The album included a rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. In celebration of this album, TK’s record company suggested she have a butterfly tattooed onto her left arm, which later became her brand symbol –
Black butterfly.
At the time of her death she was working on her fourth album.
When asked about Black Butterfly,
she said it was a song about a girl who likes this guy but is too shy to tell him so she simply sits at home and writes songs and poetry about her ‘black butterfly’. The inclusion of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” on her third album was because it was the first song she ever sang in public. Some lyrics of “Somewhere over the Rainbow” : Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high. There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby.Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream Really do come true.Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far Behind me.Where troubles melt like lemon drops, Away above the chimney tops.That's where you'll find me.Some of her songs included…..”Mind Your Business", "I Don't Want No Scrub”, “Feeling is Mutual”, “In Dis Piece”, “Eject Yo Ass”, “How do you feel”.
Penny Lebyane on TK
At her Memorial Service held in Baseline, one of her friends Penny Lebyane (MetroFM DJ), spoke passionately about TK’s music, struggles in the industry, her fears, and how woman at the time were treated in an industry dominated by men. I had a privilege of talking to Penny (over the phone) about Tk…
Mjj: Hi Penny, is it possible to talk to you about TK
Penny: Eish do you have to remind me?
Mjj: What was your initial reaction when you first heard that TK died?
Penny: You see, when Brenda died I was very sad and when TK died I was very angry at myself,.
Mj: How come?
Penny: A week or 2 before she passed on, I was with her, and she looked very troubled and I knew she was dealing with issues. I could relate to her pain and struggles, I blamed myself for not trying to make her talk about what was going through her mind.
Mjj: So you knew her well?
Penny: Yes I knew her, I knew her mother, and her family. I had been to her parents’s house. When Tk died I was very pissed off with the entertainment industry. I felt we (as those that were close to her) had failed her. Tk was a talented and hardworking woman, and as a woman singing R&B she came across with people that were not feeling what she was doing.
Mjj: so she was constantly under pressure?
Penny: Yes she was, R&B music is not one of the best selling music in our country, TK had to work hard to get people to take her seriously. Its difficult for women to be in this industry because men expect you to be at a certain way.
Mjj: So do you think it was risky for her to sing R&B instead of Kwaito or Afro Pop
Penny: TK was bold, and outspoken. She knew she wanted to do R&B even thought it was one of the least selling music in South Africa. Yes she took a risk, but it was something she was passionate about. Certain people wanted her to be something else. But she stood her ground. I was with her when she started out going around begging Music and Program managers to play list her music.
This is the point where I realized that Penny was still angry at the death of a woman, she called a friend, a woman, a daughter, an artist, a business woman, but most importantly a MOTHER.
Mjj: At the time of her death you were in studio working?
Penny: Yes I was standing in for Glen on the Avenue.
Mjj: What did you do or say when you heard the news?
Penny: I was scared, and shocked. I knew the reports were not false, so I changed the show lineup by playing TK’s music for almost an hour and interviewing people that knew her. Remember there were so many conflicting reports on that day with regards with the cause of her death. I needed to hear her angelic voice and her beautiful music ho heal the pain in my heart.
Mjj: So the industry is tough on women?
Penny: TK had to fight to get to where she was, she had to fight for her dream so she could provide for her child. The environment (entertainment Industry) didn’t help her much to deal with her troubles. People don’t understand that for some artist, to get their music on air it’s a struggle.
Mjj: So what would you say to her family, fans, and her child.
Penny: Long Live TK Long Live. TK could have been a bigger star, her music had substance. I will always remember her as a BOLD courageous, brave, risk taker and a hard working woman. SHE WAS A TRUE BUTTERFLY.
Things started getting emotional for Penny. I think she misses TK, she’s angry at the way she passed on….so I had to stop because she was also driving while I was talking to her.
Mjj: Thank you very much Penny for talking to me, your passion for woman’s success in this industry is awesome. Now on a lighter note, do you think a black child will ever win IDOLS?
Penny: No
Mjj: Why not?
Penny: There’s really no point at getting to that discussion, these children should stop entering idols with the hope of winning, they should enter idols with no expectations and to get exposure and contacts in the music industry.
Must say it was nice talking to Penny, she’s passionate about south African music. TK's music is still sounding relevant........and i know her supporters still miss her.......
If you were a fan/supporter of her music, what do you miss about her?