When Lupita Nyong’o took to the Academy Awards stage, many people, including the guys at MTV, were very proud. Although she was accepting an award for her role in the harrowing film, 12 Years a Slave, Nyong’o had previously worked on the social drama for MTV Base in Kenya, Shuga.
This sexually-charged show is popular with the youth across Africa. Another season of Shuga is on the horizon and a South African actresses, Mohau Mokoatle-Cele (pictured), is one of the principal characters.
“I did not think I’d get interviewed. I just thought I would shoot Shuga, then it would be aired and that would be the end of it,” she said.
This humble actress felt she had a lot to prove because she secured the role without any TV experience: “MTV Shuga is a huge production and it is overwhelming, but when I was studying drama at Wits we learnt a lot about acting. I come from a theatre background, but had never done TV work so I had a lot of adjusting to do,” she explained. “I didn’t think that my break would be this big.”
Although Mokoatle-Cele is now in the big leagues, she was not always sure that she would crack it.
“For years I had been struggling with insecurities. I felt I wasn’t pretty enough or good enough to be following this acting life. It escalated when I got to school and discovered that I had to meet more talented people who were chasing the same dream I was. It was a journey that I took and I decided to put my faith in God. Last year I registered with an agent and after only two auditions I got this role. The conditions were that I was to shoot in Lagos and my character would sing a lot and I did not mind doing both.”
Coming back to the platform thatcatapulted Nyong’o’s career, Mokoatle-Cele confessed that she did not make the connection at first.
“To be honest, I did not know about Shuga but I knew of Lupita Nyong’o. I also discovered that Tumisho Masha was on Shuga before. When I got to Lagos I got a real wake-up call because the show is big there. I don’t feel any pressure to reach anywhere because Lupita got far after this show. I am still young and grateful to be where I am already. Doors will be opened, but if not, it is okay. I am unique and, like Lupita, I have something to offer to the world,” she said.
The 23-year-old stars as a 16-year-old who experiences many things the youth today go through.
Mokoatle-Cele will premier on Shuga in June.