‘Idols’ performer Bongi Mthombeni and newcomer Michael Themba have been nominated for Naledi awards
Bongi Mthombeni has come a long way since performing in Idols and winning the hearts of the South African public.
This singing pocket dynamo has branched out into acting and has been in several of Janice Honeyman’s pantomimes. Last year, he was in Monty Python’s Spamolot, for which he has been nominated for a Naledi Theatre Award in the best supporting actor category. This is his second nomination in two years. He says being nominated for a Naledi for a second time is a great honour.
“It shows that my God-given talent is heading in the right direction. I’m being noticed. To me, entertainment, acting, singing and people are my passions,” he says.
Asked about the acting challenges he faced and how he overcame them, Mthombeni told me: “Getting to know the world of acting was one of the biggest challenges for me because it was a very new world and I knew nothing about the profession.
“I couldn’t tell upstage from downstage and I didn’t know about things like props and music scores. It was very difficult because everyone else knew ‘what was what’ as they had either studied together or worked together in past productions.
“Most of the people, whom I now call my friends, brought me in and guided me.
“The discipline now is that I always go home every night and recap every new word, skill and advice I receive from the directors and my friends. The next day I come back wiser and smarter.”
Whenever he was in the “dark”, he said he had to remain humble, believe in his talent and allow himself to learn from others and to trust the producers and directors.
“I always told myself that ‘you are where you are for a reason and there’s a reason why they cast you, so do what you do best’. It paid off with the Naledi nominations and I want to thank the Naledi judges and the team.”
Mthombeni believes that, on this entertainment journey he has undertaken, he has never stopped learning.
“You never stop building yourself and equipping yourself. They say ‘you are only as good as your last performance’. I am writing new material for ‘Bongi’ as an artist and entertainer. Music was my first love until the theatre industry saw something in me which I never knew existed. It was acting. So I will also pursue a career in acting, on stage, on radio and on TV as a presenter.”
Another passion, and one few people know about, is that Mthombeni often visits orphanages where he teaches the children to sing and play musical instruments, like the piano and drums. “At some point you have to give back,” he says.
He feels that theatre in South Africa is different and unique and South Africans should keep writing and producing.
“I also think we need more audience support for local productions, as well as sponsorships which will help market them better. That being said, I was very excited to see so many home-brewed productions being nominated. We are getting noticed.”
Mthombeni thanked all those who encouraged him in everything he did.
“For me, the most beautiful and emotional aspect of my work is seeing familiar faces backstage after a performance. I want to say thank you to them and to not stop believing in and praying for me. My family has always been there for me, no matter where I go. I can never do it alone. You need a good team around you. And I have one.”
• The Naledi Awards will be staged at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, on Tuesday, April 14 and is open to the public. Book through Computicket.