“A part of me has left me” – Babes Wodumo announces return to music while mourning Mampintsha

South African gqom queen Babes Wodumo has returned to music, five years after the release of her last effort, as she finally tries to face life after her late husband, Mampintsha.

Mampintsha, the Big Nuz frontman who earned a reputation for contributing to the growth of Durban kwaito, passed away in December 2022.

While she had been inactive before her husband’s death, Wodumo extended her hiatus by a further three years after his departure.

Breaking her duck, the gqom star released two songs — Sip and See ft Madanon, Jay Music, Don Edward, Frost, Sk and Sundile, and Ekhoneni ft Lelowhatsgood and Rifle Deep — on Friday before the launch of her album Mabheshingo on October 17.

In an interview, she revealed that she had found it difficult to bounce back after the death of her husband.

“I want people to get a feel of the album before it drops by releasing the Babes people know and love. There are songs by Mampintsha in the album that are included as well,” Babes told TshisaLIVE.

“After we sat down and felt Mampintsha’s EP should wait so they could put out the last project for Big Nuz in 2022, which ended up being his last, his EP was never released.

“It’s not easy because people expected me to just move on. So we took songs from that EP and put it in this project to honour him so people can see the new Babes with three-step and gospel.”

With the festive season approaching, Wodumo said this was the period that was most painful for her, as it coincided with her husband’s death.

“It’s not easy. A part of me has left me. I don’t enjoy December properly because it’s a reminder of when he died and [we] buried him.

“Grieving needed to take place. I am still grieving. I find myself crying and calling him sometimes and have to remind myself he is no longer with us.

“It’s not easy for me, especially because he was involved in my career. My job was just to get on stage and perform, my job was to get in the studio and sing. Now I’ve had to also learn how things work.”

The gqom star said she also had problems trying to make her four-year-old son understand what had happened to his father.

“My son asked me the other day when his father is coming back and whether we’re going to visit him. He doesn’t understand death because he’s still young. He still thinks he has a father who is coming back and even knows his voice.”