She is known for bringing social activism to the forefront, now Nomzamo Mbatha hopes the strides she takes uplifts those who look up to her.
On-screen she portrays the revered mother of Shaka Zulu, Queen Nandi, who embodied confidence, strength and a courageous spirit, and in real life Nomzamo personifies the character.
Though the drama series, which follows the story of Shaka's life, has been on many people's tongues, with one viewer attempting to stop MultiChoice from airing content showing bare-breasted women, Nomzamo is unapologetic about how they showcase the story.
“What does one say about people who want to have a Westernised gaze at your culture and who we are? The people I see on screen — because that is the research we did — it is what people wore in 1700s, so I don't see naked bodies. I see people dressed culturally correct for the times we are depicting,” she told TshisaLIVE.
“It's also important for us to have public discourse about the show because if we don't that means we have made something mediocre, and I think we have made a very special project. Just like how sports, politics and religion or any other thing divides people, Shaka iLembe might do the same.”
The actress, who has stepped into an executive director role, says she wants her legacy to be about how she empowered women in her field and helped them evolve in their careers.
Nomzamo Mbatha on portraying Mam'Shaka & the 'legacy' of her next chapter
“I am building a table of women creatives and that is the legacy of my next chapter.”
Image: Supplied
She is known for bringing social activism to the forefront, now Nomzamo Mbatha hopes the strides she takes uplifts those who look up to her.
On-screen she portrays the revered mother of Shaka Zulu, Queen Nandi, who embodied confidence, strength and a courageous spirit, and in real life Nomzamo personifies the character.
Though the drama series, which follows the story of Shaka's life, has been on many people's tongues, with one viewer attempting to stop MultiChoice from airing content showing bare-breasted women, Nomzamo is unapologetic about how they showcase the story.
“What does one say about people who want to have a Westernised gaze at your culture and who we are? The people I see on screen — because that is the research we did — it is what people wore in 1700s, so I don't see naked bodies. I see people dressed culturally correct for the times we are depicting,” she told TshisaLIVE.
“It's also important for us to have public discourse about the show because if we don't that means we have made something mediocre, and I think we have made a very special project. Just like how sports, politics and religion or any other thing divides people, Shaka iLembe might do the same.”
The actress, who has stepped into an executive director role, says she wants her legacy to be about how she empowered women in her field and helped them evolve in their careers.
While she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her Hollywood dream, Nomzamo says her mission is to amplify African women's voices.
“I'm putting together something very close to my heart. In terms of the empowerment of women, I am building a table of women creatives and that is the legacy of my next chapter. When I look around my table I want to have strong female cinematographers, directors that I am going to take to the next.”
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