Seputla Sebogodi: ‘If you can’t speak Zulu, you’ll starve’ [WATCH]
Former ‘The River’ actor Seputla Sebogodi claims the entertainment industry is biased towards Zulu actors and those who can speak isiZulu.
Veteran actor Seputla Sebogodi, who is popularly known for his roles in The River and Generations reveals on David King’s podcast that the South African entertainment industry is biased towards Zulu actors and actors who can speak isiZulu.
ALSO READ:Actors Themba Ndaba and Seputla Sebogodi join ‘Redemption’
‘TELL ME ONE SOAPIE WITHOUT ZULU’
The former The River actor Seputla Sebogodi, who is known for his role as businessman Kenneth Mashaba in Generations also revealed in the interview that he turned down five soapies in 2022 because he was asked if he can speak Zulu.
“This year I said no to five soapies or drama series. I said no. Because you ask me, you ask me, ‘can you speak Zulu’? My brother, if you can’t speak Zulu be prepared to starve. Tell me one soapie without Zulu’s, I will give you a million (Rand). In South Africa, if you can’t speak Zulu, you are as good as scrambled eggs. It’s a big thing
IHarare reports that the former The River actor added that if an actor/actress cannot speak Zulu in South Africa, they are likely to starve in the entertainment industry.
The Sepedi-speaking actor Seputla Sebogodi accused the entertainment industry of being biased and warned that actors who do not speak the isiZulu fluently will find it hard to get roles. He also revealed that actors who do not speak the language are not recognised.
ALSO READ:Lunathi Mampofu takes a break from ‘The River’
Also read: SA actress Thuso Mbedu to star beside Viola Davis in ‘The Woman King’
SEPUTLA SEBOGODI: LATEST ROLES
Sebogodi joined The Queen actor Themba Ndaba, Durban Gen’s Tina Jaxa, and Generations’ Sthandiwe Kgoroge, and actors BU, Generations: The Legacy’s Yonda Thomas, The Estate’s Sparky Xulu, and more in BET_Africa’s new faith-based telenovela Redemption in September.
The show airs Mondays to Fridays at 18:00 on BET_Africa and is produced by both Seriti Films, who created Gomora, and Burnt Onion productions, who created How To Ruin Christmas.
The veteran actor also joined award-winning actresses, Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu in The Woman King.
Entertainment commentator, Phil Mphela, confirmed on Twitter that the actor also joined Star Wars actor, John Boyega, in the movie.
ALSO READ:Seputla Sebogodi joins Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu in ‘The Woman King’