Dumisani Dlamini Explained

Dumisani Dlamini
Birth Date:23 October 1963[1]
Birth Place:Durban, South Africa
Years Active:1987present
Known For:Portraying Crocodile on Sarafina!
Notable Works:Yizo Yizo
Children:Doja Cat

Dumisani Dlamini (in Zulu 'ɮamini/; born 23 October 1963) is a South African actor and dancer best known for playing Crocodile on Sarafina! (1992) and Chester on Yizo Yizo.[2] He is the father of American musician Doja Cat.[3] [4]

Career

Dlamini started his career in South Africa as a dancer which led him to be cast in the musical, Sarafina! which premiered in South Africa in 1987. His international career started when the musical became a Broadway production which led him to tour the U.S. from 28 January 1988 — 2 July 1989.[5] His film career began when the play was adapted into the movie Sarafina! (1992) starring Whoopi Goldberg. He lived in the U.S. for a few years after the show ended and later returned to South Africa where he continued his work in the television and music industry. He is also credited as the producer and pianist on Linda Kekana's I am an African album which was released by Gallo Records in 2002.[6] He started a career in television and has been acting for the past 30 years where he appeared in popular South African shows like Isibaya, Shaka Ilembe, and Yizo Yizo amongst others.[7]

Personal life

Dlamini is from Durban, South Africa and is of Zulu descent.[8]

In the 1990s, in the course of a tour to the United States as a part of Mbongeni Ngema's cast and crew,[9] Dlamini met painter and clothing designer, Deborah Sawyer and had a relationship with her before parting ways, Sawyer is also the mother of his daughter Doja Cat.

In 2023, at the age of 59, Dlamini paid bride price (lobola) for his wife Ophelia Mulela on 2 September 2023, the couple held a private ceremony in Soweto, South Africa.[10] He was previously engaged to Girlie Nhlengethwa and Nandi Ndlovu.[11]

Accolades

List of Accolades
Award / Film FestivalYearRecipientProjectNominationResultRef.
South African Film and Television Awards2009UsindisoGolden Horn Award for Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama
2022eHostelaGolden Horn Award for Best Actor in a TV Drama

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dumisani Dlamini . 2024-02-07 . Playbill.
  2. Web site: Keteyi . Oluthando . 28 May 2023 . Dumisani Dlamini - 30 years of acting and still going strong . 13 January 2024 . Independent Online.
  3. Web site: All About Doja Cat's Parents, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer and Dumisani Dlamini . 13 January 2024 . Peoplemag . en.
  4. Web site: Skudder . Jake . 24 July 2023 . Doja Cat: Twitter, Vegas, Age, Boyfriend, Ethnicity, Real Name, Weight Loss & More . 13 January 2024 . HotNewHipHop . en.
  5. Web site: GQ chats to Dumisani Dlamini on his new role in Mkhonto, Doja Cat and 30 years in the film industry. www.gq.co.za.
  6. Mojapelo, Max (2009) Beyond Memory. Recording the History, Moments and Memories of South African Music.p234
  7. Web site: 'He was hurt': Doja Cat fails to pitch at her father's wedding. Mihlali. Vellem. 29 September 2023. The South African.
  8. Web site: Doja Cat's Brother Allegedly Knocked Her Teeth Out. Mom Files Temporary Restraining Order. Sandra. Rose. 18 January 2024.
  9. Web site: 'Mbongeni Ngema took me from the dust of Umlazi as a young man': Dumisani Dlamini . 13 January 2024 . TimesLIVE . en-ZA.
  10. Web site: Seleme . Rae . 8 September 2023 . Doja Cat's father Dumisani Dlamini gets hitched . 13 January 2024 . The South African . en-ZA.
  11. Web site: World . 7 September 2023 . Doja Cat's father Dumisani Dlamini gets hitched at 59 . 13 January 2024 . Sunday World . en-ZA.