Dumisani Dlamini

Dumisani Dlamini
Born (1963-10-23) 23 October 1963 (age 61)[1]
Durban, South Africa
Occupations
  • Actor
  • dancer
Years active1987–present
Known forPortraying Crocodile on Sarafina!
Notable workYizo Yizo
ChildrenDoja Cat

Dumisani Dlamini (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 rapper 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] He produced Mercy: Sex Appeal, whom his daughter Doja Cat thought he was just a dancer.

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 the mother of his son Raman and daughter Amala, A.K.A the rapper and singer Doja Cat.[3]

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 Festival Year Recipient Project Nomination Result Ref.
South African Film and Television Awards 2009
Himself
 Usindiso Golden Horn Award for Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama Nominated [2]
2022 eHostela Golden Horn Award for Best Actor in a TV Drama Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Dumisani Dlamini". Playbill. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b Keteyi, Oluthando (28 May 2023). "Dumisani Dlamini - 30 years of acting and still going strong". Independent Online. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b "All About Doja Cat's Parents, Deborah Elizabeth Sawyer and Dumisani Dlamini". Peoplemag. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  4. ^ Skudder, Jake (24 July 2023). "Doja Cat: Twitter, Vegas, Age, Boyfriend, Ethnicity, Real Name, Weight Loss & More". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  5. ^ "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. ^ Vellem, Mihlali (29 September 2023). "'He was hurt': Doja Cat fails to pitch at her father's wedding". The South African.
  8. ^ Rose, Sandra (18 January 2024). "Doja Cat's Brother Allegedly Knocked Her Teeth Out. Mom Files Temporary Restraining Order".
  9. ^ "'Mbongeni Ngema took me from the dust of Umlazi as a young man': Dumisani Dlamini". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  10. ^ Seleme, Rae (8 September 2023). "Doja Cat's father Dumisani Dlamini gets hitched". The South African. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  11. ^ World (7 September 2023). "Doja Cat's father Dumisani Dlamini gets hitched at 59". Sunday World. Retrieved 13 January 2024.