Sunday Tribune

The young SA stars making waves on the global stage

KEDIBONE MODISE kedibone.modise@inl.co.za

THIS year marks 45 years after the youth uprising, where school pupils took to the streets of Soweto to fight for their right to an education of choice.

As we reflect on this historical moment, we honour the Class of 1976 for the sacrifice they made to ensure that the youth of today have a better future. It is this sacrifice that sees many young creatives fly the South African flag high as they cement their names across different global platforms.

This Youth Month we pay homage to some of South Africa’s youngsters who are making major international moves in music, film, television, theatre, dance and art.

Thuso Mbedu

South African actress Thuso Mbedu hit the ground running in Hollywood. The Kwazulu-natal-born star plays the lead role of Cora Randall in the series about American slavery, The Underground Railroad, based on the novel of about the same name by Colson Whitehead.

Mbedu made history by becoming the first South African actress to lead an American television series. She has been nominated at the upcoming Black Reel Awards for the series. The two-time International Emmy award-nominated actress is also set to feature in a film debut, The Woman King, alongside Viola Davis.

Master KG

Kgaogelo Moagi aka Master KG fast became a global sensation when his feel-good song Jerusalema featuring Nomcebo Zikode, took the world by storm and had everyone dancing away the lockdown blues at the height of the global pandemic.

The chart-topping Jerusalema won local and international awards including best African act at the MTV Europe Music Awards, a NRJ Music Award for international song of the year, and the global record of the year at the 2021 Global Music Awards Africa (GMAA).

Master KG recently released a new single, Shine Your Light, featuring international music giants Akon and David Guetta. The creative made it into Forbes Africa “30 Under 30” list for his contribution to the music industry.

Nomzamo Mbatha

In 2019, Nomzamo Mbatha packed her bags and moved to America and that bold step paid off immensely. Six months later, she was cast for what would be her Hollywood breakout role in the film Coming 2 America, the long-anticipated sequel to Eddie Murphy’s 1988 hit.

Mbatha plays the role of Mirembe, the royal barber, who falls in love with Lovelle (Jermaine Fowler), who is the son of King Akeem Joffer (Murphy).

The Kzn-born actress is also a goodwill ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. In 2015 she became the face of Neutrogena, making her first

South African to become the brand ambassador for the global cosmetic brand.

Eli Zaelo

Eli Zaelo, real name Tshegofatso Mhlongo, is a Pretoria-born star who is shining on music and theatre stages internationally. She moved to Hong Kong in 2015 after she got her breakthrough role of Nala in Disney’s The Lion King. Her journey in the performing arts scene kicked off in high school when Eli majored in drama at the Pretoria art school, Pro Arte Alphen Park.

She later moved to California, where she studied music performance at the LA School of Performance. In a recent interview with Pretoria News, the 27-year-old said she left the US for the “huge music industry in China”.

She eventually found her second home in Hong Kong, where she’s hitting the right notes with Chinese pop music aka C Pop.

Sifiso Mazibuko

Kimberly-born star Sifiso Mazibuko is living his dream in London. He completed his B-tech in Musical Theatre in 2009 at Tshwane University of Technology, before heading to the US to study for his Master’s degree in Fine Arts (Acting) at Ohio State University.

His theatre credits include Hamilton: An American Musical (original cast – The West End, UK) where he won the award for best long-running West End show performer (male) for his role as Aaron Burr; Motown The

Musical (original cast – The West End, UK) where he played Marvin Gaye; Dreamgirls South Africa (original cast);

and African Footprint (Asia Tour), Shaka Zulu: A New Musical (original cast).

Oti Mabuse

Pretoria-born star Oti Mabuse rose to fame on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing.

She studied civil engineering at university before embarking on a career in professional dancing, following in the footsteps of her sister Motsi Mabuse who is a professional ballroom dancer.

The London-based star recently bagged a TV gig as a judge on ITV’S The Masked Dancer UK – a spin-off series from The Masked Singer UK alongside Jonathan Ross, Mo Gilligan and Davina Mccall.

The two- time Strictly Come Dancing winner also recently graced the cover of TV Times Magazine, alongside Davina Mccall. She has earned various awards including first place in the German Championship Freestyle Latin competition.

Mohau Modisakeng

Mohau Modisakeng is a South African artist who attempts to directly address the historical issues of racism in South Africa. Working with sculpture, video and performance, the Soweto-born artist often features in his own work.

Through art, Modisakeng explores issues of race, militarisation of society and the deep divides of post-apartheid

South Africa and the post-colonial continent. His work has been exhibited extensively in South Africa as well as in art centres around the world, including New York, Basel and London.

Tebza Diphehlo

Teboho Diphehlo is at the forefront of the iconic pantsula dance. The Soweto-born choreographer, teacher and philanthropist owns a dance school in Naledi township in Soweto. He conducts online classes, teaching pantsula to students in Sweden, France and the rest of the world.

His accolades include winning the inaugural South African leg of Red Bull Dance Your Style in 2018, which earned him a place at the world final in Paris in 2019. He recently launched his own proudly South African clothing brand, Smart Pantsula.

Mthokozisi Emkay Khanyile

Kzn-born actor, singer and dancer Mthokozisi Emkay Khanyile is taking a lead as Mufasa in Disney’s The Lion King as the tour continues to thrill audiences around the globe. After a hiatus of more than a year, the tour resumes in New Zealand this month and the star says he is honoured to be part of the iconic production.

Since 2018, the musical extravaganza has dazzled fans around the world in Manila, Singapore, Daegu, Seoul, Busan, Taipei, Bangkok and Hong Kong.

Khanyile is also a baritone, composer and music producer.

LIFESTYLE

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2021-06-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-20T07:00:00.0000000Z

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