Somizi Mhlongo’s Heartfelt Speech at Winnie Khumalo’s Memorial Service That Left Everyone in Tears

On January 16, 2025, South Africa was once again engulfed in grief as they bid farewell to another music legend. The loss of Winnie Khumalo, a beloved figure in the country’s music industry, following a brief battle with illness, left fans and fellow artists heartbroken. The memorial service, a bittersweet tribute to her legacy, was marked by raw emotions and candid reflections from those who loved her. Among the speakers was Somizi Mhlongo, a close friend and a prominent figure in South African entertainment, whose speech struck a deep chord with everyone in attendance.

Somizi’s speech at the memorial service was a mixture of vulnerability, strength, and honesty that resonated with the audience on a personal level. As someone who had experienced profound loss himself, particularly the death of his own mother, Somizi spoke not just as a friend to Winnie but also as a person who understood the depth of the pain that comes with losing a mother. His words were not just a tribute to Winnie’s life and career, but also a reminder of the immense impact mothers have on their children and families, and the lasting effects their absence leaves behind.

Somizi began his speech by acknowledging the inevitability of death and the way it changes one’s perspective on life. He shared that, at the age of 52, he had learned to view death differently than he did when he was younger. As a young person, death seemed unnatural, something that could never be understood fully, and it was always accompanied by sadness and fear.

But with age and experience, Somizi had come to see death as a transition, a part of life that must be embraced. “Death is inevitable, one thing that’s guaranteed in life is the end, but it’s not the end – it’s the beginning of a new chapter,” he said, expressing a perspective that many people, especially those who have lost loved ones, find comforting.

His speech then took a more personal turn, as he reflected on the unique bond between mothers and their children. “Losing a mother is different. No one can truly prepare you for that,” Somizi said, his voice filled with emotion. “They are the glue that holds everything together.” His words captured the profound truth about the irreplaceable role that mothers play in the lives of their children and families. He compared mothers to chameleons who could adapt to any situation, being everything that their children needed them to be. From being a caregiver to a counselor, a protector, and a source of unconditional love, a mother is often the backbone of a family.

Somizi also pointed out that while time may ease the pain, it never truly heals the wound of losing a mother. “Time heals, but time doesn’t make it better,” he said, emphasizing that while the sharpness of the pain may dull over time, the absence of a mother will always be felt. “You may cry today as you cried years ago, and that is okay. It is normal,” he added. His words provided a sense of validation for everyone who had ever mourned the loss of a loved one, particularly a mother.

One of the most powerful parts of Somizi’s speech was his reminder that no matter how much time passes, life will never be the same again. “Christmases will never be the same, birthdays will never be the same,” he said, referring to the moments that many people take for granted until they are no longer shared with the one person who made those celebrations special. His honesty about the ongoing grief that never fully goes away was both heartbreaking and comforting for those in the audience who knew all too well the pain of losing a mother.

In his speech, Somizi also offered a word of advice to Winnie’s family and friends. “Stay together,” he urged them. “You will realize that your mother was the glue of the family. When she is gone, special occasions will feel emptier, but you must remember that it’s okay to mourn forever.” This call for family unity in the face of loss was an important reminder of how important it is to lean on one another during difficult times. Somizi’s emphasis on staying together as a family echoed the sentiment that while loss is painful, the love and support of those around you can help you navigate through the hardest moments.

As Somizi continued, he touched on something many people try to avoid talking about—the pain that comes with losing a mother. He recalled his own grief and how, even though he had experienced this loss years ago, there were days when it felt as though his mother had passed away only yesterday. “Sometimes you will feel as if she just passed away today, even if it has been two years,” he shared, his voice trembling with emotion. These words were an honest reflection of the timeless nature of grief and the way it can resurface unexpectedly.

The emotional power of Somizi’s speech came from his ability to speak to both the universal experience of loss and the deeply personal nature of it. His vulnerability and honesty created a connection with the audience, making them feel seen and understood. It was a moment of shared humanity, where the pain of losing a loved one transcended the individual and became something collective.

The memorial service for Winnie Khumalo was not just a farewell to a music legend, but a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. Somizi’s speech was a tribute to his dear friend, but it also served as a powerful message to everyone in attendance about the enduring strength of love, family, and the unbreakable bond between a mother and her children. Though the pain of loss will never fully go away, Somizi’s words reminded everyone that it is okay to mourn and that, in time, the love we have for those we’ve lost becomes a source of strength that we carry with us throughout our lives.