Draft:Zolisa Xaluva
Zolisa Xaluva | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 13, 1981 |
| Nationality | South African |
| Education | Tshwane University of Technology |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Known for | Generations, Gomora, Knuckle City |
Zolisa Xaluva (born 13 June 1981) is a South African actor known for his roles in television series such as Generations and Gomora, as well as films like Knuckle City and Sew the Winter to My Skin. He has received critical acclaim for his performances, including winning the Best Actor award at the Africa Movie Academy Awards.[1][2]
Early life and education
[edit]Xaluva was born in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. At the age of 11, his family moved to Johannesburg and later to Pretoria to live with extended family. He is the third of four children born to Thando and Nombuyiselo Xaluva.
He matriculated in Pretoria and initially pursued Media Studies and Communication Science at Technikon Witwatersrand. However, due to financial difficulties, he left the program with one year remaining. He attempted to establish a campus radio station at the institution but was unsuccessful. Subsequently, he returned to Port Elizabeth and joined an arts and culture group that performed plays in schools. Later, he enrolled at Tshwane University of Technology (then Technikon Pretoria) to study drama, graduating in 2003.[3]
Career
[edit]Xaluva's acting career began with a role as Lwazi Mboweni in the third season of the SABC 1 drama series Tsha Tsha in 2004. He gained prominence with his portrayal of Jason Malinga in the SABC 1 soap opera Generations from 2005 to 2006. After leaving Generations, he appeared in various television series, including Rhythm City, Gugu and Andile, and Tshisa.
In 2020, he took on the role of Melusi Dlamini, a school principal, in the Mzansi Magic telenovela Gomora. His performance in the film Sew the Winter to My Skin earned him the Best Supporting Actor award at the South African Film and Television Awards in 2019.[4]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Sew the Winter to My Skin | Black Wyatt Earp | |
| 2019 | Knuckle City | Art Nyakama | |
| 2023 | The Queenstown Kings | Buyile Mahamba |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–2006 | Tsha Tsha | Lwazi Mboweni | Seasons 3–4 |
| 2005–2006 | Generations | Jason Malinga | |
| 2008 | Rhythm City | HHP's Manager | |
| 2008 | Gugu and Andile | Khutso | Miniseries |
| 2008 | Tshisa | Various roles | Season 2 |
| 2020–2022 | Gomora[5] | Melusi Dlamini | |
| 2020–2021 | Kings of Jo'burg | Mogomotsi "Mo" Masire |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | South African Film and Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Feature Film | Sew the Winter to My Skin | Won |
| 2019 | Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Sew the Winter to My Skin | Nominated |
| 2021 | South African Film and Television Awards | Best Actor – TV Drama | Kings of Jo'burg | Nominated |
| 2024 | Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | The Queenstown Kings | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/s-mag/culture/2025-04-09-zolisa-xavula-hails-gail-mabalane-for-being-a-class-act-on-the-set-of-unseen/
- ^ https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/actor-zolisa-xaluva-takes-legal-action-against-seriti-for-more-than-r300k-unpaid-salary-20250311
- ^ https://www.bona.co.za/entertainment/zolisa-xaluva-returns-to-popular-drama-series/
- ^ https://iol.co.za/entertainment/streaming/2025-04-09-gail-mabalane-returns-in-unseen-season-2-alongside-siv-ngesi-sindi-dlathu-zolisa-xaluva/
- ^ https://sundayworld.co.za/news/gomora-returns-for-season-2-with-shock-revenge-and-deceit/