[1][2] Mhlongo drew on various South African musical styles such as Mbaqanga, Maskanda, Marabi and traditional Zulu, fused with contemporary elements from jazz, funk, rock, gospel, rap, opera, reggae and West African music.
[3][4] In the 1970s, Mhlongo relocated to London, later recording with other South African artists who were living in exile, such as Dudu Pukwana and Julian Bahula.
Due to her powerful activism against apartheid through music, Mhlongo was exiled therefore working and living in the Netherlands, North America and the UK.
[1] Due to Mhlongo's exile, she was unable to raise her daughter or attend the funeral of her husband, whose cause of death was murder.
[citation needed] Mhlongo was nominated for a Grammy and won three South African Music Awards.