It’s fourth time lucky for Bonga Dlamini who plays Rhythm City’s traditional healer.
After three unsuccessful auditions, Bonga Dlamini finally landed a part on Rhythm City on his fourth attempt. Bonga started his career on the Isidingo Acting Talent Search where he was one of the top five finalists. He acted in eKasi: Our Stories: My Foreign Husband playing a man who illegally marries a young woman without her consent to avoid being deported.
Here’s what the KZN-born Bonga had to say about joining Rhythm City as Puleng’s inyanga.
When did you decide that acting was what you wanted to do?
In the mid-90s I watched a video of a play called Woza Albert. This mesmerised me and years later when choosing a career I knew that acting was my path. I enrolled for a Diploma in Drama studies at Tshwane University of Technology. I did my final year at Durban University of Technology.
How did the Rhythm City gig come about?
In the past three years I auditioned for a couple of roles on Rhythm City but nothing came through. I recall auditioning for Maidi’s character, who would be Tshidi’s love interest. I was disappointed when the auditions weren’t succesful, but the love I have for the show saw me heading back again to audition for Mangaliso’s role. My luck came after my fourth attempt.
Before Rhythm City, what were you working on?
I played a priest on Zone 14, Dr Jali on Isidingo, and a bad guy on Isibaya.
Tell us more about your current character, Mangaliso.
Mangaliso is a traditional healer, but he is also an ordinary young man who studied for a qualification in accountancy. He later had a calling but didn’t want to follow this path. He eventually agreed to be an inyanga when he became sick. After training to be an inyanga he realises that this isn’t such a bad thing, but there is a lot of responsibility involved.
What’s it been like playing this character?
I’ve been comfortable. I have a friend who went through the process of training as a sangoma years back before I even started acting. Through that experience, he managed to shed light on this process and this helped rid the myths and stereotypes.
People have negative perceptions about traditional healers, how will your character change these?
We’ll show people that inyangas are also just people who can be educated, young, and they still have interests in worldly things like everyone else.
Who do you hope to inspire with this role?
The youth from the rural villages, who just like me, yearn for success. Don’t look down on your abilities just because you are from the rural areas, dare to dream beyond your circumstances and know that nothing is impossible!
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