Mbatha has received praise for his portrayal of Mzilikazi kaMashobane in Shaka iLembe
Katlego Sekhu
South African actor Mpilo Mbatha, who portrays Mzilikazi ka Mashobane in Shaka iLembe season 2, recently shared a personal reflection on his journey into the role, which has earned praise.
In his post, Mbatha revealed that Shaka iLembe was not only his breakout performance but also his very first audition. He recalled walking into the audition room in May 2024, surrounded by industry heavyweights including producer Angus Gibson, Nomzamo Mbatha, and Desiree Markgraaff.
“I had never been in an audition room before Shaka iLembe, never,” he wrote. “Just typing that gives me chills. This was my very first audition.”
Mbatha shared that before he began his improvised audition scene, one with no script and no preparation and asked for a moment to honour his lineage.
“I assembled my father’s ancestors, amathonga kaBaba, izinsendema, nezingonyama zekhehla elingizalayo,” he said, describing the act as a grounding point that carried him through the performance.
Shaka iLembe, which premiered in 2023, is set in the 1700s and early 1800s.
It chronicles King Shaka’s journey from a challenging childhood, marked by paternal rejection and ostracisation, to his eventual rise as a powerful king.
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