XiTsonga music extraordinaire, Samson Mthombeni left a remarkable legacy and South African men pride themselves in celebrating the life of the 'Shinengana' hitmaker.
The musician who passed away on April 5 at Nwaxinyamani village outside Giyani in Limpopo is remembered by many South Africans who enjoy traditional Tsonga music. Mthombeni was 75 years old when he died.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/SamsonMthombeni?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SamsonMthombeniin 2006 for an album that had some of the legends of Xitsonga Music. They had been friends till his death. He tells me the old man was loving and full of humour @AldrinSampear #POWERTalk @ProfTinyiko @MkhariGiven pic.twitter.com/Z84jjOdtTK
— Trevor Hlungwani (@mjtrevor1)
Men have taken it upon themselves to start a Samson Mthombeni challenge where they wear nceka/shawl and nceka/headwrap just as Mthombeni did.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/ProfTinyiko?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ProfTinyiko @JamesBigjam @Bohani21 @Djbrianrikhotso @Enghumbhini @NyukisaDw @CapricornFM #SamsonMthombeniChallenge #RIP @Munghana pic.twitter.com/dUWkjmurmM
— Trevor Hlungwani (@mjtrevor1)
Some even made videos in XiTsonga gear while dancing to Mthombeni's tunes.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/SamsonMthombeniChallenge?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SamsonMthombeniChallengeaccepted. Samson Mthombeni, a legacy never to be forgotten pic.twitter.com/zzeO1UfIsd
— Christo (@ChristoThurston)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/Enghumbhini?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Enghumbhini @MkhariGiven @Makashule @ProfTinyiko #SamsonMthombeniChallenge pic.twitter.com/g6nnroLhVO
— Bongani Baloyi (@BonganiBaloyiEM)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/SamsonMthombeniChallenge?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SamsonMthombeniChallenge pic.twitter.com/g7TlxdteTE
— Aldrin Sampear (@AldrinSampear)
Mthombeni will be buried on Saturday, April 11 and the ceremony will be private as the family has to abide by the lockdown regulations when holding the funeral service.