Somizi’s book resurrects Lebo Mathosa from the dead
History is likely to always repeat itself
After Brenda, my next BFF would be Lebo Mathosa. The last time I saw her was when she knocked on my door in Hillbrow, as a little girl.
When Boom Shaka blew up, I recognised her, that little girl who had her first taste of prawns at my house. We started connecting and became very close friends. Lebo and I shared a lot of things, artistically and creatively we were very similar. She was in Boom Shaka with Thembi Seete, Junior Sokhela and Theo Nhlengethwa. I also got close to Theo, to a point that Bonginkosi wanted to fight him because he thought I was doing something with Theo.
We became so close (with Lebo) that I would even sleep over at her house and she would also sleep over at mine.
I remember one time we didn’t have money. We went to a supermarket pretending to buy groceries, while we stole food. We took a whole chicken and started eating it while “shopping for groceries”. After eating the chicken we left the trolley and nonchalantly walked out of the shop. We were best friends for life for real.
On October 22 2006 I had just split up with Tom and I was heartbroken. Lebo was by my side as always. I had had shows back-to-back that weekend. I was exhausted.
I got home the following day and Lebo called me and invited me to a YFM party. At this point Lebo was dating this boy called Ntlaka, who was Nhlanhla Mbambo’s son. How life seemed to repeat itself?
Ntlaka was dating Lebo Mathosa. Ntlaka’s father was once married to Brenda Fassie. Brenda was the iconic drama queen, queen of pop, the Madonna of South Africa and Lebo Mathosa was now the new Brenda Fassie.
Lebo came around and I didn’t answer her calls.
I woke up at 7am the following day, October 23 2006, to find my phone flooded with messages from musicians. And the message from Thandiswa said Lebo was late. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I switched on the TV and I saw the news: “Lebo Mathosa dies in a car accident”.
I was devastated. I don’t think I have cried like this in my entire life. I don’t think I have ever been so melodramatic, justifiably so.
This is an extract from Somizi’s book, “Dominoes: Unbreakable Spirit”.
I was devastated. I don’t think I have ever been so melodramatic, justifiably so.