Tsakani "TK" Mhinga (23 November 1978 – 27 February 2006) was a multiple SAMA award winning South African R&B singer, arranger and songwriter.
Her first taste of the music industry came from her electric, chemistry driven collaboration A Place for a Wife with rapper Mizchif on his debut album.
She released Mind Yo' Business from her debut album, TKO and received critical acclaim for her vocals and international approach when it came to her music, but she was often ridiculed and criticised for not doing the vernacular, which was Kwaito or Afro-pop.
In 2002, TK performed with international act Foxy Brown at the Gauteng R&B Hip Hop Festival and opened for Keith Sweat and Deborah Cox on their South African concerts.
Her third and last album, Black Butterfly (2003) was considered her best, it was seen as a celebration of life and showcased the abundant music styles that TK excelled in.
It included the upbeat "In This Piece" featuring Stagga, "How Do You Feel", "Black Butterfly" which received a warm reception and play listed on local radio stations, and a poignant rendition of "Over the Rainbow", of which TK professed a certain fondness.
Despite being a celebrated artist, none of TK's albums sold more than 25,000 copies, though she still hoped to reach a worldwide audience, by infusing her style of Rhythm & Blues with an indigenous African flavour.
TK had a considerable following under the South African gay community, based on her sassy vocals, cheeky lyrics, the grinding beats of her tracks and for her beauty and seemingly bubbly personality.
[citation needed] TK's single Mind yo' business off her debut album speaks of the realities of life where a Prince Charming does not exist.
On the day before her death, Sunday 26 February 2006, she, apparently, was entertaining a few friends, including kwaito star Mandoza, at the hotel where she was staying.
Local newspapers were quick to make comparisons between Tsakani Mhinga's death and that of other 27-year-old musicians, such as Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain.