A burst of colour from the streets of Alex
Text: Phila Tyekana. Pictures: Shaun Smith
Source: This article is from the October 2011 issue of Bona Magazine.
Actress Samkelo Ndlovu unveils the rich history of Alexandra, the place she calls home.
Alex is no slum!
Dating back to 1912, Alexandra was originally a farm owned by a gentleman called Mr Papenfus. Now a diverse township filled to the brim with colour, the place is far from resembling its original landscape. Samkelo agrees saying the best thing about her hometown is its vibrancy. “The congestion and overflow of its streets are what make it unique,” she tells us.
Her voice takes a turn towards stern when we bring up claims that the township is seen as an over populated slum. “It’s utter ignorance for somebody to say that! This place is home for me, it has produced many talents that not only I look up to but the rest of the country too,” she says. Actress Moshidi Motshegwa, Irvin Khoza, Hugh Masekela and the likes of former first lady, Zanele Mbeki were bred in Alex she informs us with pride in her voice.
Township life: A school for all creatives
In addition to its vibrancy and colour, the 22-year-old actress says the township is the perfect foundation for nurturing any artist’s talent. Acting is literally the art of decoding human emotions and copying them onto screen with each character you play. “In the township you see and experience all sorts of human interactions that feed the artist in you. It offers you all those different kinds of people or situations you might find yourself having to portray on TV, the secret lies in finding the perfect way to mimic them into a character” she says.
In the local movie, Skyf, produced by actor Thapelo Mokoena, Samkelo plays a straight-talking township school girl. To draw inspiration and do character research, the actress reveals she came home to Alex, knowing its people would school her in portraying the character at its best.
Madiba, my (ex) neighbour
We scout the township for perfect spots to photograph the beautiful DJ Lulu of Generations fame. She takes us to her grandmother’s place where she once lived with her mother and three older sisters.
The house is next door to the little room former President Nelson Mandela rented when he first came to Joburg. Samu’s grandmother has fond memories of a young Mandela who at the time was no one but “a young chap known for his fierceness in fighting for the rights of black people,” gogo tells us.
The room has since been turned into a monument and is the pride and joy of the township. “I was nine when Mandela came to visit his old room.
It was a magical moment but of course I was too little to understand the greatness of it and who he was at the time. That beautiful moment will forever be with me,” Samkelo tells us as we secretly crumble with envy.
Other famous faces from Alexandra
Rapper, Nkuli “Flabba” Habedi
Actor Mduduzi Mabaso who plays Suffocate on Rhythm City Theatre actress, Nomsa Buthelezi
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