What happened to Mampintsha? Tributes pour in as Big Nuz musician dies at 40

Well-known musician Mampintsha recently passed away on December 24, 2022, at the age of 40. Also known as Mandla Maphumulo, he was also a member of the South African Kwaito trio Big Nuz.

Mampintsha's cause of death was not disclosed, however, he was taken to Durban's King Edward Hospital a few days ago after suffering a stroke while performing with his group. According to Afrotainment, he was being treated by top doctors. Afrotainment had also asked his fans to pray for his speedy recovery at the time.

He died at the same hospital. It remains unknown if the stroke played any role in his death. The Southern African Music Rights Organization verified the news on social media, noting that they had expressed their sympathies to his family and friends and that his death was a big loss for the music industry.

Mampintsha's management company, Westlink management, issued a statement indicating that the specifics of his death will not be shared with the public for the time being. They added that his family has requested privacy while they mourn his death, and detailed information about his funeral will be disclosed soon.

Netizens pay him tribute on Twitter

Mandla Maphumulo gained recognition all these years for being a talented musician. So Twitter was flooded with tributes when people heard about his demise:

Mampintsha was popular as a member of Big Nuz

Mampintsha was reportedly born on July 18, 1982, and was popularly known as a member of Big Nuz.

Big Nuz was made up of three members, the other two being Mzi and Sbu. They began by collaborating with a few artists before being signed by Gallo Records in 2006. Their first album, Zozo, was not well received, and it was followed by a single, Uyoysholo Wena.

The group joined another record label, Afrotainment, and their next album, 2nd Round Knockout, managed to become a big hit. Numerous accolades were bestowed upon it, leading to further partnerships and recognition. The group’s third album, Undisputed, was released in 2009 and its singles were well-received by the public.

Big Nuz’s next album was titled Pound for Pound, followed by Made in Africa and For The Fans. Following the release of For The Fans in 2015, one of the members, Sbu, passed away from some illness. The group’s latest album, R Mashesha, was released this year (2022.)

Big Nuz was the recipient of several accolades at the 9th AMFA Awards, Channel O Music Awards, 16th SAMA Awards, MTV Africa Music Awards, and 22nd South African Music Awards. The group became popular with singles from their albums like Sting Ray, Inazo, Osisi Bendawo, and more.

About the author

Anupal is a pop culture writer at Sportskeeda with a degree in Political Science. He developed a keen interest in the lives of celebrities, films, TV shows, and box office collections since an early age. After accumulating significant experience as a content writer across varied fields at companies such as The Indian Wire, DigiStatement, and QuirkyByte Media, he eventually settled on writing about his favorite genre - pop culture.

Anupal believes in conducting in-depth research while writing about any topic and relies on varied sources to ensure he produces holistic articles. He also often glances through content that was published in the 80s and 90s to gain a better understanding of the subject he is covering.

Anupal admires Robert Downey Jr., who played one of his favorite Marvel superheroes, Iron Man. He is inspired by the actor's resilience and the determination in overcoming past struggles to building a successful Hollywood career and admires the way he articulates his thoughts while speaking in interviews.

If Anupal could travel back in time, he would love to experience James Cameron's 2009 film 'Avatar' in a theatre full of fans. When he's not busy working, he binges on the latest OTT titles across languages.

Know More