Thembi Nyandeni (born 19 March 1958), is a 65-year-old South African actress. Who is well known for her lead role as Mkabayi Zungu. The tough-talking matriarch of the family and Mpiyakhe’s sister, in the Mzansi Magic telenovela Isibaya. As well as Njinji on Uzalo and How to Ruin Christmas. In this article we will look into her life and career.
Biography of Thembi Nyandeni
Full name: Thembi Nyandeni
Date of birth: 19 March 1958
Place of birth: Mofolo North, Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa
Education: Unknown
Height: 1.62m
Occupation: Unknown
Known for: Uzalo as Njinji, Isibaya as Mkabayi Zungu and How to ruin Christmas
Net worth: Unknown
Instagram: @therealmkabayi
Nationality: South African
Early life
On March 19, 1958, Thembi Nyandeni was born in Mofolo North, Soweto, Gauteng Province, South Africa. She was reared in Soweto as well, where she developed her toughness and independence at a young age.
She grew up in an extremely impoverished family. Although he owned a cab business, Nyandeni remembered that her father was struggling to make ends meet. Thus, Nyengeni despised poverty and turned to acting as a means of escape.
“My family was really underprivileged. Though he had a cab business, my father was having financial trouble. I therefore didn’t want to live in poverty the rest of my life, and show business provided me that voice because we lacked it during the apartheid era. Being on stage provided me power.” said Nyandeni.
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Personal Life of Thembi Nyandeni
Thembi has three kids and has been married once. She was allegedly married in a polygamous marriage, according to another story. Thembi embraces feminism and thinks that despite being a woman, she can accomplish anything a man can.
“I needed to prove to other women that we are capable of succeeding without a male. I have faith in my ability to function as a woman without a male. She spoke. Moreover, she also said that the fact that she raised her children alone is proof that she is capable of supporting herself without the help of a guy.
How did Thembi Nyandeni get into Acting?
In her early 20s, she began working in show business as a dancer for the popular musical ensemble Ipi Ntombi. She spent 15 years travelling the globe with the acclaimed show, stopping in every nation in Europe as well as the US, Canada, and Australia.
Moreover, made her acting debut in the local theatre u’Deliwe when she came home in her early 30s after being found by Simon “Mabhunu” Sabela. Who frequently visited their house to drink beer. Furthermore, she received R150 for each call in a supporting role as the title character’s secretary (Cynthia Shange).
Therafter, she rose to fame thanks to her groundbreaking performance in Kwakhala Nyonini as Beauty, a character that had previously been portrayed by the late Mazibuko.
More Career Information
Thembi went on to play the character of Selina Khumba in the SABC1 drama series Zone 14 starting in 2005 after completing all these small roles that served as her acting training.
She then received castings for several regional serials, including Lockdown, Isidingo, Rockville, and The Republic. When she portrayed Mkabayi Zungu in the Mzansi Magic soap Isibaya, the tough-talking matriarch of the family and the sister of Mpiyakhe, her notoriety increased even more.
Njinji on Uzalo and How to Ruin Christmas
She appeared in the Netflix series How to Ruin Christmas in 2021 as Aunt Prudence, who showed up on set following the passing of her sister. Later, in 2022, she made her acting debut as Njinji in Uzalo season 8. She joined the cast of the new season along with actresses Hope Mbhele and Sandile Mfusi.
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Social media
The actress is mainly on Instagram like most celebrities. She goes under the username @therealmkabayi. Which we believe is an adaptation of her Isibaya Character.
