Shaka iLembe is one flick that has been growing in the consciousness of South African ever since it was announced. One man who is playing a very important role in the series is Thembinkosi Mthembu. His character is none other than King Dingiswayo.
Well, what does it mean to be saddled with that role and how did he prepare for it? These questions and more were part of what the actor addressed recently. According to him, he made it a point not to watch previous Shaka Zulu series in order not to let them influence his acting.
The goal, according to him, was to give “Shaka iLembe” his personal spin without past influences intruding in the latest iteration of the legend of Shaka Zulu. Thembinkosi Mthembu’s devotion to his character was such that he got injured during filming. By his account, although the fight scene was choreographed, sometimes the punches get real. The result was he got injured at some point.
The series is set in the 1700s and brings to life the legacy and times of a man regarded as the greatest Zulu King – Shaka Zulu. That character continues to capture the imagination of millions of people millennia after he walked the face of the earth.
