- Bernard “Babsy” Mlangeni’s music gave voice to the dreams, struggles and aspirations of ordinary African people.
- His song Iphupho Lami has taken on deeper meaning following his passing, becoming a testament to collective hope, dignity and resilience.
- His legacy lives on through music as memory, resistance, healing and a bridge between generations.
“The drum is silent, yet its rhythm remains in the hearts of the people of Soweto and Katlehong.”
Afrika mourns. Soweto laments. Katlehong cries. Unisa weeps. For the academic community, particularly institutions such as Unisa, the passing of Bernard “Babsy” Mlangeni offers an opportunity for reflection on the relationship between knowledge, culture and liberation.
Universities are not merely repositories of books and theories. They are guardians of humanity’s intellectual and cultural heritage. The life of Ntate Babsy Mlangeni reminds us that some of the greatest scholars never occupy lecture halls. Yet they educate nations through lived experience, cultural and artistic expression, and ethical example.
Today, the fertile soil of our ancestors receives one of its faithful sons: a wandering minstrel of the people, a custodian of melody and a messenger of hope. Ntate Bernard “Babsy” Mlangeni was more than a musician. He was a vessel through which the dreams, pains, victories and aspirations of ordinary people with less eyesight found a voice.
His music travelled beyond stages, TV sets and radio waves; it entered homes, taxis, taverns, churches and community gatherings where Africans sought comfort and affirmation of their humanity.
Iphupho Lami: a dream beyond one man
The title of one of his most beloved songs, Iphupho Lami (My Dream), now echoes with deeper meaning. It is no longer merely a song. It has become a testimony. A declaration. A legacy. A testament.
For millions living under apartheid and navigating the complexities of democratic South Africa, dreams have always carried political, social and personal significance. They represent hope in times of despair and possibility in moments of uncertainty.
What makes Iphupho Lami timeless is its ability to connect across generations. Older listeners hear echoes of their sacrifices and aspirations, while younger audiences discover a message that remains relevant in contemporary struggles against poverty, unemployment, inequality and social exclusion.
The dream spoken of in the song is not confined to one individual. It is a collective dream of a society where every child can realise their potential and every citizen can live with dignity. Every lyric carried the weight of lived experience. Every note and tone conveyed sincerity and serendipity. His music reminded us that genuine artistry emerges from truth and right, love and light.
In a world increasingly driven by commercialism, Babsy remained rooted in the lived realities of ordinary people and connected with all those with less data and signal. This explains why his songs continue to evoke deep emotional responses long after they were first recorded. Babsy’s dream was not his alone.
It was the dream of millions who grew up under difficult conditions yet refused to surrender their dignity. It was the dream of township youth who sought inspiration amid hardship and strife.
Music as memory, resistance and healing
As Pan-Afrikanists, we understand that music is not entertainment alone. Music is memory. Music is resistance. Music is healing. Music is a bridge between generations. Music was born in Afrika, as Ntate Babsy once said.
Throughout our story, from the drums of ancient Afrika to the liberation songs of anti-colonial struggles, music has preserved our identity when others sought to erase it. The Afrikan worldview teaches us that death is not an ending. It is a transition — Mo Afrika o robetse. Mogolwane o tlhokofatse.
Those who serve humanity with honour do not vanish but vibrate in our minds and souls. They become part of the living heritage of a people. They take their place among the ancestors who continue to guide the living through memory, example and spirit.
A melody carried into the ancestral realm
Bernard “Babsy” Mlangeni has crossed the sacred River Nile and River Limpopo, yet the rivers still flow with the glow of his smile. He joins the great congregation of Afrikan cultural icons such as Hendrik “Koloi” Lebona and Tebogo Steve Kekana, whose contributions transcend time and geography.
His melodies from Iphupho Lami remain embedded in our collective consciousness as we remember him. Present and future generations may never meet him, but they will know him through the songs he left behind and through the countless lives he touched when he passed our way.
Hamba kahle, Bernard “Babsy” Mlangeni. May the ancestors receive you with song and a dream. May Afrika in Song remember you with gratitude. May your Iphupho Lami live forever in the hearts of the people.
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The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Conviction.co.za
