From being a busy actor in community theatre to captivating audiences as the lovable rogue “Tsiki Tsiki” on the hit Showmax series Adulting, Nhlanhla Kunene’s meteoric rise embodies the raw charm and sheer determination of this rising star in South Africa’s entertainment industry.
Nhlanhla Kunene’s profile summary and resume
Before we delve into his inspirational journey, let’s take a brief look at the story behind this charming screen man:
- Full name: Nhlanhla Kunene
- Year of birth: around 1994/1995 (around 29 years old in 2024)
- Birthplace: Emnambidi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Current residence: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Height: 1.76 m (5’9″)
- Background: Raised by a single mother who worked as a domestic worker
- Siblings: 3 brothers and sisters
- Education: Dropped out of the University of the Westlands School of Drama and studied at Duma Ndlovu College
- Best known for: Playing the charismatic gangster Eric ‘Tsiki Tsiki’ in Showmax’s Adulting
As Nhlanla himself said in an interview, “I never thought I would be in the spotlight… I thought the attention would be on Banga because Tbinkosi is such a great actor.”
Who is Nhlanhla Kunene?
From chasing his dream of acting in humble theatre productions to gradually carving his name into the annals of South African television, Nhlanla Kunene’s road to success is a true comeback story. You have to admire his tenacity and resilience.
He first shot to fame playing the aloof gangster Jabu in the Mzansi Magic series Lavish in 2022. While the performance was notable, it was only a prelude to Nhlanhla’s real star turn as Eric ‘Tsiki Tsiki’ in Adulting.
Nhlanhla’s authentic portrayal as a charming yet devoted father figure resonated with audiences in powerful ways. Surprisingly, even the brash character’s brash demeanor and criminal behavior couldn’t stop fans from finding “Tsiki Tsiki” extremely appealing.
Nhlanhla’s on-screen charisma is undeniable and his ability to infuse seemingly stereotypical roles with profound depth has quickly solidified his reputation as a talent to watch. From small roles in shows like The River and Muvhango to this breakout success, his upward trajectory seems to know no bounds.
How old is Nhlanhla Kunene?
Like most rising stars, Nhlanla is tight-lipped about his exact age and birthday. However, according to interviews, he was most likely born around 1994 or 1995, which would make him around 29 years old in 2024.
Ironically, despite his somewhat mysterious age, Nhlanhla completely convinces the audience that in Coming of Age, he plays a young, rugged father figure to the feisty teenager Ncumisa, played by Siphesihle Khanyile.
After all, in showbiz, age really is just a number when you can bring such authenticity to a character, and it’s clear that Nhlanla has mastered the skill.
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Nhlanhla Kunene was raised by a single mother
Although he is now a rising star, Nhlanla’s upbringing was far from luxurious. He candidly recalls growing up in the small town of Emnambiti, where he was raised by his mother, who worked tirelessly around the house to support Nhlanla and his three older brothers and sisters.
She didn’t outright reject my idea of acting, but I could tell she wanted me to do something else. I had a knack for math and physics… but I realized I was more of an artist than an academic.”
- Nhlanhla recalls his mother’s initial hesitation about his chosen career path.
Sadly, he was forced to drop out of his drama course at the prestigious Wits University in his second year as his mother could no longer afford tuition fees due to financial difficulties.
These struggles clearly fueled a determined drive within Nhlanla, who continued to hone his skills at the Duma Ndlovu Academy, paving the way for his eventual breakthrough.
Nhlanhla Kunene’s wife
Despite his meteoric rise to fame, Nhlanhla remains very private about his love life. Podcast and Relax with Mac G In May 2023, he jokingly acknowledged the ongoing rumors:
“You want to know if I have Msunu (Partner) That’s terrible! ”
The answer, at least in the interview, is a resolute ‘no.’ Nhlanhla revealed that he is currently single and consciously avoids intimacy for spiritual reasons.
His stance stems from his belief in avoiding potential “energy transfers” that could affect fertility or have other metaphysical consequences. While his views may ruffle some feathers, his dedication to personal growth is admirable.
Nhlanhla Kunene’s adult roles taught him how to raise children
In Coming of Age, Nhlanhla plays Eric ‘Tsiki Tsiki’ – a former college student with a complicated life that includes carjacking, being a father to his young daughter Ncumisa, and lingering feelings for his high school sweetheart.
The role required a nuanced portrayal of the joys and struggles of single parenthood. In an interview with Xabiso Ngqabe, Nhlanhla commented poignantly:
It taught me that being a father isn’t easy — especially when the mother isn’t around. Now you’re a single father to a girl, and there are things that are hard to talk about. It also taught me that there’s no set formula for raising a child.”
Despite the character’s flaws, his close relationship with Ncumisa was one of the most praised aspects of the show’s first season. Nhlanhla’s authentic performance was clearly aided by empathy and internalization of these fathers’ experiences.
Nhlanhla Kunene interprets his characters with spirit
Nhlanhla’s ability to fully inhabit and elevate seemingly singular characters astounds audiences and critics alike. His secret? A rather profoundly “spiritual” approach to acting.
As he revealed drum Magazine:
“I study each character and learn as much as I can about them. But I also let their spirit live inside of me so I can make the character believable… and then when I’m done, I tell him I’m done and he needs to go.”
This esoteric approach allows Nhlanhla to embody a character so thoroughly that the line between reality and fiction becomes blurred. It’s a fearless technique that allows him to tap into a deep reservoir of emotion and infuse his characters with a remarkable sense of authenticity.
Whether you interpret this as a profound artistic commitment or a spiritual interconnectedness, the result is mesmerizing. From Ndumiso, the powerful rich kid in The River, to Jabu, the philosopher gangster in Luxurious, Nhlanla fits into his characters seamlessly.
Nhlanhla Kunene’s Instagram
In this age of social media, Nhlanhla has attracted more than 88,900 followers on Instagram (@nhlanhla)Kunene) as of 2024.
The rising star humorously considered deactivating his account because of too many enthusiastic fans sending private messages. He mischievously relayed:
It made me uncomfortable and I wanted to make sure I didn’t lose focus… I even considered deleting my Instagram because this whole thing also brought up a spirit that I didn’t want to be associated with.
Hopefully, Nhlanhla will continue to maintain his presence so that his rapidly growing fan base can tune into his unconventional spiritual musings and on-screen endeavors. An unvarnished glimpse into his life is sure to be compelling.
Nhlanhla Kunene’s film and theatre works
While Nhlanhla Kunene first shot to fame on Adulting, he has also steadily built up an impressive acting resume:
Film and Television:
- Adulthood (2023-Present) – Eric ‘Tsiki Tsiki’
- Luxury (2022) – Jabu
- The River (2018) – Ndumiso
- Muvhango (2019) – Minor role
- Entering the Entrepreneurship Stage (2018) – Speaker
- IsiThelo – Mask (2016 short film) – Supporting role
- Missing (2016 short film) – Supporting role
theater:
- Magic Pot (2017) – lead vocals
- Forbidden Knowledge (2016 musical)
- Antidote (2016 musical)
- The Secret Society (2015)
With his undeniable talent and dedication, there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing more of this rising star in major film/TV projects soon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Nhlanhla Kunene originally from?
Nhlanhla Kunene is a native of Emnambiti, a small town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Who does Nhlanhla Kunene play in Coming of Age?
In the hit Showmax series Adulting, Nhlanhla plays the lead role of Eric ‘Tsiki Tsiki’ – a student turned carjacker and loving single father to his daughter Ncumisa.
Who are the other main cast members of Coming of Age?
The core group of friends in Coming of Age is as follows:
- Thebinkosi Mthembu as Bonga
- Luthando Mthembu as Vuyani
- Thabiso Ramusi as Mpho
With his natural talent, stunning authenticity and profound artistic vision, Nhlanhla Kunene’s meteoric rise demonstrates the incredible potential of the next generation of South African entertainment. As “Tsiki Tsiki” might philosophically say, this is only the beginning of his soul’s journey.
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Source: svlsf.edu.vn