Thembi Nyandeni has joined Uzalo – SABC 1’s leading telenovela and the country’s number one show.
Her character, Njinji, and the boss moves she’ll be bringing to screen has already had a shocker of a prelude when her son (played by Siyabonga Radebe) made himself public enemy number one in the new season’s first few episodes.
“Njinji is there to takeover Nkunzi as the head of KwaMashu. And she’s there to shake him up. People will need to watch to see how she does that, but if you know me, you’ll know that I’ve done it before.
“My character (and myself) don’t have that much respect for men like Nkunzi. The men that I respect are those who take care of their families, their wives and their children – but if you don’t do that, you’ll see another side of me,” she says.
“Njinji grew up in a bad environment and was not loved by the family and the community – a lost child – until she met this hardcore criminal who took her under his wing and showed her love, respect, dignity and he gave her everything.
“But, like it happens with criminals, he was taken away from her and she’s become bitter and hardened, yet won’t show her pain to anyone.
“So, she pours into her community and uplifts them but they don’t know her, what she’s done and what she’s capable of; and her true colours as a tough crime boss.
“Njinji isn’t there to take over Nkunzi’s throne because she’s a scorned woman or has history with him – she’s there to expand her empire because she believes his time is up,” Thembi explains.
With her back into mainstream television on an SABC channel, it’s expected that there will be parallels and comparisons between one of her other famous characters, Isibaya’s Mkabayi, and Njinji.
To this, the seasoned actress says, “Mkabayi was known to be a hot-headed woman, only interested in protecting her family – not the community. You don’t mess with her family. She wasn’t scared of anyone and wore her temper and the fact that she was dangerous, openly.
“With Njinji, she doesn’t look dangerous, her reputation is that she’s the angel and hero of the community; and they don’t know that she’s a ruthless woman. Her people would kill for her and she’s built this supportive, loyal base in her family and her community with no one even thinking to snitch on her.
“Mkabayi and Njinji are both very strong women in their own way, but their ambitions of domination and their vision on getting what they want are also very different.”
With over forty decades in entertainment, Mam’Thembi says that the arrival of a modern matriarch is a good thing and has been wonderful to see, and be part of.
“When we were starting out, it was a different time and entertainment reflected that. Strong, outspoken women weren’t the norm and those who were, were considered ‘unruly’. It was also the apartheid era where we were not allowed to open our mouths and speak out. Yet it is women who’ve been keeping our communities and society going,” she says.
“It’s game-changing now. Women are independent and they are the heads of their households. We’ve been paving the way with our roles slowly at first, and now we’re seeing more and more of these matriarchs on screen.
“And I believe that there’ll be more portrayals of the ultimate imbokodo on our screens and not just those who are strong because they survive men but those who are strong because they are not just evil or just good but multi-faceted and strong in their love for their families and communities too.
“They are there protecting their families, their children, their villages and their interests – and I believe these characters are especially relevant now, especially in this country. I’m happy that they are giving more of us roles like this for the future generation to know that they can be powerful and successful by themselves.
“That’s why I love Njinji – because she shows me that she plays her role as both ‘man and woman’ in a very different way. She had a man who looked after her, she lost him, and now she’s taking charge [of] both roles and doing it better. It’s amazing to see and I can’t wait for you to meet her,” she adds.
