After the hit cultural phenomena Black Panther had the world begging for a more inclusive Marvel universe, the world is starting to warm up to an African media landscape, writes Deepika Naidoo.
South Africa has been putting its best foot forward representing the continent. Whether it’s our innovation of house music or our thespians who bring magic to drama, our exported talents, particularly from KZN, have been blossoming.
Much of the talent cultivated in KZN has made its way to all corners of the world. From Ibiza to California, KZN stars are shining in the 2000s.
Grammy award winning Black Coffee – real name Nkosinathi Innocent Sizwe Maphumulo – has joined the ranks of the world’s most honourable DJs with his residence in the party capital of the world, Ibiza.
Born in Umlazi, Maphumulo’s solo career popped because of his love for South African music discovered at a young age through the cherished past-time of listening to the radio with his grandma. His 2015 hit Pieces of Me had global house fans queuing up to hear his music, paying ode to his unique KZN sound that many of our talented musicians have mastered over the years.
After living abroad in Los Angeles for two years and making her smashing Hollywood debut alongside movie stars Eddie Murphy and Wesley Snipes, rising star Nomzamo Mbatha has made a pit stop to her ’hood, KwaMashu, while on a tour of her home country.
Documenting her journey back home, Mbatha posted a heart-warming video of her cruising down memory lane. In the clip, she comes across a bunch of kids playing on the street with what seems to be an upside-down shopping trolley. For the 31-year-old Mbatha, this was an ode to her cultural and creative roots in KZN.
Mbatha hails from the same postal code as legendary actress Leleti Khumalo, actor Henry Cele, and UK-based comedian Thenjiwe Moseley. Mbatha went to Bechet High School in Durban and often speaks about her trials and tribulations.
“I made the most of the opportunities given to me,” she said in one of her many Instagram videos promoting her charitable work. While education is close to her heart, her upbringing would not have been the same if it had not been for her dedicated mother, an educator to many children in this province.
“My mommy is a teacher and has always been strategic in choosing to take her skills to underprivileged schools and building the learning environment. She is so passionate to the point that even when she’s home she’s in teacher mode.”
Another actress who has made waves in Hollywood is the young yet already legendary Thuso Mbedu. After securing the bag on Amazon’s The Underground Railroad, the Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High alumni took it upon herself to nail the role of an African-American woman fleeing from a Georgia plantation.
Her Hollywood debut led to her winning the hearts of millions around the globe with her world-class acting and sweetheart personality. From Trevor Noah to Ellen DeGeneres, big names want a chance to chat with our KZN star. She also topped the trending list, getting millions of South Africans on Twitter gushing about her success and her winning personality.
In an interview with media mogul Oprah, Mbedu revealed that she was awestruck when she finally landed in LA and saw her face on a larger-than-life billboard. “It’s actually very surreal – and doesn’t fully register. I went to a billboard on Sunset Boulevard with my friends, and I kept telling them, ‘It’s me … It’s me … It’s me’.”
Even Benoni’s very own Oscar award winner Charlize Theron chatted to Mbedu in a Vogue magazine article about SA’s cultural exports. “There’s this emerging South African talent coming forth right now, and I’m just really proud and really impressed. You guys are stepping in and setting that bar,” she said to the Pietermaritzburg Girls’ High School alumni.
Mbedu’s success story is far from over. In her latest money move, Mbedu announced she would be acting alongside How To Get Away With Murder star Viola Davis in the upcoming film The Woman King, a female-centric historical epic reflecting more of what we would like to see in our fantasy worlds.
