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AYANDA GININDZA: WALKING IN A DREAM
By Thandeka Khoza
Life can be so unpredictable at times. One day you're just a normal Swati boy casually moving through life, steadily chasing your dream of becoming an actor with each day. The next day, you find yourself starring in one of the biggest shows on the entire African continent. This is the kind of life we live! And this is what happened to one Ayanda Ginindza, a 23-year old actor from Malkerns who landed the role of King Sobhuza I on the Mzansi Magic epic, Shaka iLembe.
The casting call was sent out last year to all aspiring Swati actors and Ginindza saw an opportunity of a lifetime. The characters to be portrayed included the likes of Princess Hletjiwe, Queen Regent Lojiba, as well as King Somhlolo (formally known as King Sobhuza I)—the founder of our nation as we know it. Hundreds auditioned to be a part of this prestigious project and Ginindza managed to be called back for the role of the great King. “A casting call from Facebook calling everyone who is interested in acting and the auditions were held in Mbabane,” he explains, “I won the first round and I was called for the second round which were in Joburg and I also won that. Ngayitfola kanjalo”. Not that he was an inexperienced thespian; he already had some acting roles under his belt. He had already starred on a local production titled ‘Bucili Abukhokheli’ that showcased on Channel S, as well as working on upcoming seasons of shows like ‘Ekhaya’—an Eswatini TV original show, and yet another historical piece called ‘Baka Ngwane’ where he played another Swati royal figure King Mtfonga, the brother of King Mswati I. Ginindza has indeed been hard at work familiarizing himself with the craft as though the universe knew that he was about to secure the biggest role of his budding career sooner rather than later.
The irony of him starring in two historically inspired pieces is not lost on the actor. If you were to ask him, it is like a confirmation from a divine power that he is on the right track. He shares, “these two shows were not just a show to me but a spiritual journey. Telling our own history. And I’m very lucky kutsi they used me as their vessels". As a man with a genuine passion for stories and storytelling, the direction of his career seems fitting, particularly in regards to drama, since it is often overlooked as an avenue for storytelling in the Swazi context. “I always wanted to tell stories to people. Edutainment,” the actor shares, "I’m so happy, blessed and so grateful to God and to my ancestors because this is what I was praying for all along these years kutsi nge talent yam’ ngifise kufundzisa phindze ngijabilise bantfu.
The actor has certainly come a long way from his days of doing comedy skits on YouTube with his friends. In a country where the dramatic arts are extremely underrated, it is so refreshing to see somebody go out there in the world to represent us in that manner so proudly. Ginindza does, however, have glimmers of hope for the art form’s future in spite of the situation. “Kona akukabi lula kutsi basi-recognise-e”, he says, “And we are still pushing kutsi one day bayihloniphe njengoba other countries bayayihlonipha and bayitsatse serious”.
By Thandeka Khoza
Life can be so unpredictable at times. One day you're just a normal Swati boy casually moving through life, steadily chasing your dream of becoming an actor with each day. The next day, you find yourself starring in one of the biggest shows on the entire African continent. This is the kind of life we live! And this is what happened to one Ayanda Ginindza, a 23-year old actor from Malkerns who landed the role of King Sobhuza I on the Mzansi Magic epic, Shaka iLembe.
The casting call was sent out last year to all aspiring Swati actors and Ginindza saw an opportunity of a lifetime. The characters to be portrayed included the likes of Princess Hletjiwe, Queen Regent Lojiba, as well as King Somhlolo (formally known as King Sobhuza I)—the founder of our nation as we know it. Hundreds auditioned to be a part of this prestigious project and Ginindza managed to be called back for the role of the great King. “A casting call from Facebook calling everyone who is interested in acting and the auditions were held in Mbabane,” he explains, “I won the first round and I was called for the second round which were in Joburg and I also won that. Ngayitfola kanjalo”. Not that he was an inexperienced thespian; he already had some acting roles under his belt. He had already starred on a local production titled ‘Bucili Abukhokheli’ that showcased on Channel S, as well as working on upcoming seasons of shows like ‘Ekhaya’—an Eswatini TV original show, and yet another historical piece called ‘Baka Ngwane’ where he played another Swati royal figure King Mtfonga, the brother of King Mswati I. Ginindza has indeed been hard at work familiarizing himself with the craft as though the universe knew that he was about to secure the biggest role of his budding career sooner rather than later.
The irony of him starring in two historically inspired pieces is not lost on the actor. If you were to ask him, it is like a confirmation from a divine power that he is on the right track. He shares, “these two shows were not just a show to me but a spiritual journey. Telling our own history. And I’m very lucky kutsi they used me as their vessels". As a man with a genuine passion for stories and storytelling, the direction of his career seems fitting, particularly in regards to drama, since it is often overlooked as an avenue for storytelling in the Swazi context. “I always wanted to tell stories to people. Edutainment,” the actor shares, "I’m so happy, blessed and so grateful to God and to my ancestors because this is what I was praying for all along these years kutsi nge talent yam’ ngifise kufundzisa phindze ngijabilise bantfu.
The actor has certainly come a long way from his days of doing comedy skits on YouTube with his friends. In a country where the dramatic arts are extremely underrated, it is so refreshing to see somebody go out there in the world to represent us in that manner so proudly. Ginindza does, however, have glimmers of hope for the art form’s future in spite of the situation. “Kona akukabi lula kutsi basi-recognise-e”, he says, “And we are still pushing kutsi one day bayihloniphe njengoba other countries bayayihlonipha and bayitsatse serious”.
AYANDA GININDZA: WALKING IN A DREAM
By Thandeka Khoza
Life can be so unpredictable at times. One day you're just a normal Swati boy casually moving through life, steadily chasing your dream of becoming an actor with each day. The next day, you find yourself starring in one of the biggest shows on the entire African continent. This is the kind of life we live! And this is what happened to one Ayanda Ginindza, a 23-year old actor from Malkerns who landed the role of King Sobhuza I on the Mzansi Magic epic, Shaka iLembe.
The casting call was sent out last year to all aspiring Swati actors and Ginindza saw an opportunity of a lifetime. The characters to be portrayed included the likes of Princess Hletjiwe, Queen Regent Lojiba, as well as King Somhlolo (formally known as King Sobhuza I)—the founder of our nation as we know it. Hundreds auditioned to be a part of this prestigious project and Ginindza managed to be called back for the role of the great King. “A casting call from Facebook calling everyone who is interested in acting and the auditions were held in Mbabane,” he explains, “I won the first round and I was called for the second round which were in Joburg and I also won that. Ngayitfola kanjalo”. Not that he was an inexperienced thespian; he already had some acting roles under his belt. He had already starred on a local production titled ‘Bucili Abukhokheli’ that showcased on Channel S, as well as working on upcoming seasons of shows like ‘Ekhaya’—an Eswatini TV original show, and yet another historical piece called ‘Baka Ngwane’ where he played another Swati royal figure King Mtfonga, the brother of King Mswati I. Ginindza has indeed been hard at work familiarizing himself with the craft as though the universe knew that he was about to secure the biggest role of his budding career sooner rather than later.
The irony of him starring in two historically inspired pieces is not lost on the actor. If you were to ask him, it is like a confirmation from a divine power that he is on the right track. He shares, “these two shows were not just a show to me but a spiritual journey. Telling our own history. And I’m very lucky kutsi they used me as their vessels". As a man with a genuine passion for stories and storytelling, the direction of his career seems fitting, particularly in regards to drama, since it is often overlooked as an avenue for storytelling in the Swazi context. “I always wanted to tell stories to people. Edutainment,” the actor shares, "I’m so happy, blessed and so grateful to God and to my ancestors because this is what I was praying for all along these years kutsi nge talent yam’ ngifise kufundzisa phindze ngijabilise bantfu.
The actor has certainly come a long way from his days of doing comedy skits on YouTube with his friends. In a country where the dramatic arts are extremely underrated, it is so refreshing to see somebody go out there in the world to represent us in that manner so proudly. Ginindza does, however, have glimmers of hope for the art form’s future in spite of the situation. “Kona akukabi lula kutsi basi-recognise-e”, he says, “And we are still pushing kutsi one day bayihloniphe njengoba other countries bayayihlonipha and bayitsatse serious”.
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