Hailing from Samora Machel in Phillipi, 24-year-old performer Bonani Ngamlane proves that dreams come true with his inspirational journey that started from his adolescent dreams in Samora and took him to the world with his role as Qhawe Jobodwana, a football team member in The Queenstown Kings, which premiered on the 17th of November on Netflix.

The film follows the story of a disgraced football player who returns to his hometown in rural Queenstown and finds it difficult to bond with his gifted son, Fezile Gigiba, who has big football goals in life.

Bonani’s story
I met with the rising star this week. Intrigued by where his story all began, I learnt that he was originally from the Eastern Cape; however, he attended primary and high school in Samora Machel in Phillipi, where he soon discovered his passion for acting in his early years of studying drama in Grades 8 and 9, where they were exposed to various escapades at the Baxter Performing Arts Theatre in Rondebosch, Cape Town.

“We went to Baxter Theatre in Grade 9 to watch a professional play by actors from Khayelitsha; they were doing a one-hander. So, when I watched them performing, I was like, this is what I want to do for the rest of my life” – and that’s how it starts, one defining moment in your life to make you say yes, this is what I want for the rest of my days.

As a high-school student, his first acting performances took place at Tsoga Centre in Samora Machel with a group called Impilo weMpumumelo doing local community theatre; however, his professional career kicked off through his participation in a final student film production at City Varsity and going on to perform on a bigger stage with experienced actors – at the Johannesburg Market Theatre.

Scoring the gig
Before I could ask about the film, he eagerly mentioned it, and we both marvelled in excitement! One of his friends sent him a brief for the film stating anyone could audition through self-tape as it was during COVID-19 times. He faced some difficulties but made a plan. “It was so hard for me because I’m home in this small shack, so I had to take everything out and do the audition in my room”, and the rest was history!

“It was big, and I was so happy. I’ve always wanted to work with director Jamil Qhubeka. He has done a lot for the South African film industry. And he has worked with many good actors, especially AmaXhosa!” – Here, he was a Xhosa guy making it happen, which shows how good he was, and anything was possible if one just tried.

This was significant for him because not only was he able to work with his ultimate director, but he explained that the film is close to his heart as it’s about dreams and believing in oneself! How significant! Many people didn’t understand Fezile’s dream. Still, he believed in himself to make his dreams happen – similar to his story where some of his family members saw acting as a hobby until he achieved what was seen as the unachievable.

Where to from here
Jokingly, he told me that amongst all the things that he has done, right now, all he is trying to do is finish his BA Dramatic Arts degree at WITS. And I got what he meant, haha! Regardless, as much as he wants to continue his professional acting career, he wants to invest in the community. “I’m a product of people who have worked through the community; it’s not just about us doing drama”.

Drama has helped them as the youth escape townships’ challenges – drugs and crime. Therefore, he wants to open a drama theatre in Samora Machel and invest in drama therapy, which needs to be improved in the community. He would like to afford them therapy by allowing them to share their story and see themselves through acting – a safe space to heal, harness their skills and work towards their dreams.

Question: What dreams do you want to pursue?

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