Nandi Nyembe

Nandi Nyembe (born 19 August 1950)[1] is a South African actress known for her roles in the sports drama Zone 14, and Soul City.

Nandi Nyembe
Born (1950-08-19) August 19, 1950
Kliptown, Johannesburg, South Africa
OccupationActress
Years active1986–present
Children1

Early life

Nyembe was born in Kliptown, Johannesburg, in August 1950. She also stayed in various places, like Botswana and East London, South Africa when she was young.[2][3] Nyembe has shared how she used to always be cast as a maid in auditions because of the apartheid regime. In an interview with Bona Magazine she said:

White women’s faces used to get painted black if the show needed a black lead. The inequality and oppression angered me, and I started taking part in protest theatre. The police used to interrupt our protest theatre shows with tear gas to intimidate us. Most of the shows were at night and on my way home, the police used to ask for my pass. I was often on the run because the government hated what we were doing."[4]

Career

Nyembe is known for playing Nandi Sibiya from 1 until 2012 on Zone 14. She also portrayed the character of Lily on SABC 1's hit teen-drama Yizo Yizo (2001-2004),[5] and the leading character in the SABC 1 sitcom Izoso Connexion, from (2006-2007). She has acted in feature films, including Reasonable Man (1999), Saturday Night at the Palace (1987) and Yesterday (2004).[6][7]

In 2007, she appeared in the drama series Jacob's Cross, playing the role of Thembe Makhubu. In addition, Nyembe has appeared as a guest in episodes of dozens of primetime series including Soul Buddyz, Hillside, Erfsondes, 4Play: Sex Tips for Girls and a guest starring role in The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency.[8]

2014–present

In 2006, she also starred in an episode of SABC1 drama series Sticks and Stones, Nyembe has also been a cast member on several television shows, including Mzansi Magic's Isithunzi, Isibaya and The Road for two seasons.[9][10] In 2016, she was cast in the e.tv drama series Ashes to Ashes.[11][12] In 2017, Nyembe joined the cast of Mzansi Magic Isithembiso Dolly.[13]

In September 2021, the character she played in the television series House of Zwide was killed off. This led to a string of false reports online that Nyembe had died in real life, and prompted friends to get in touch with her in a panicked state.[14]

Personal life

Nyembe has a daughter. Nyembe practices sangoma (Medium/psychic), she had her sangoma initiation when she was only 17,[15] Before knowing she was a sangoma she suffered a serious illness, as a result of being able to connect with the spirits of people who died on the road. In addition she told Time Lives Magazine about the illness.

I was sick and my mother had to take me to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. At some point, doctors had to test my urine and surprisingly it came out with soil but there was nothing wrong with me,[16]

Nyembe's daughter also practiced sangoma, though she has stopped.[17]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1987 Saturday Night at the Palace Miriam
1994 A Reasonable Man (1999) Rachel Ndlovu
2004 Yesterday Sangoma

Television
Year Title Role Episodes Notes
1994,1996,

1997,1999, 2001,2003

 Soul City Sister Lizzie
(2001–2004) Yizo Yizo Lily
2002 Gaz'lam Lerato's Mother
2005–2012 Zone 14 Nandi Sibiya
2006–2007 Izoso Connexion X
2007,2011–2012 Jacob's Cross Thembi Makhubu
2008 Hillside. Ntshebo Maloka
2009 The Coconuts Mrs Hlatshwayo
2014 Sticks and Stones Patience
2011 Soul Buddyz. Gogo
2014 Ses'Top La Guest
2015–2017 Ashes to Ashes. Ma' Mazibuko
2015–2016 The Road Gogo
2016–2017 Is'thunzi. Nolwazi
2013–2019 Isibaya. Gog' Mkhithi
Year Award Category Work Result
2001 South African Film and Television Awards Best Supporting Actress – TV Soap/Telenovela Ashes to Ashes Nominated

References
  1. "Nandi TVSA". TVSA.
  2. "Things we didn't know about Nandi Nyembe". ZAlebs.
  3. Tshiqi, Bongiwe (22 August 2017). "Staying Power – Nandi Nyembe".
  4. https://www.bona.co.za/staying-power-nandi-nyembe/
  5. Notho, Snazo (26 October 2017). "NANDI LANDS INTERNATIONAL ROLE!". DailySun.
  6. "Veteran actress Mama Nandi Nyembe on female scars".
  7. "Yesterday - Love has the power to change our tomorrow". www.yesterdaythemovie.co.za.
  8. "Nandi Nyembe - TVSA". www.tvsa.co.za.
  9. Soapie, Doctor (21 July 2017). "6 Things we didn't know about Nandi Nyembe our favourite "Aunt" on tv screens".
  10. "Solid as a rock". Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2023 – via PressReader.
  11. "New faces on Ashes To Ashes". News24. 18 April 2016.
  12. "New actors for Rockville". 14 January 2014.
  13. "Shalima Mkongi launches web series 'In Bed With' - IOL Entertainment". www.iol.co.za.
  14. Nandi Nyembe: I am Alive and Kicking!
  15. "Nandi's magical touch". News24. 8 May 2016.
  16. "Actress Nandi Nyembe opens up about being a sangoma in real life". TimesLIVE.
  17. "Nandi Nyembe is also a sangoma in real life". ZAlebs.
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