Friends and family gathered at the Market Theatre in Newtown, Johannesburg, to celebrate the life of the legendary actress, Nandi Nyembe.
Nandi, who was hailed as the very soul of South African storytelling, passed away on Saturday, August 23 at the age of 75 after suffering from financial struggles and an illness that left her bound in a wheelchair.
Seasoned actresses Rami Chuene and Lerato Mvelase led the ceremony and ushered the speakers to the stage.
One of the speakers was filmmaker, Angus Gibson. He said Nandi was a great actor, but the industry didn’t protect her from the harsh realities of the world.
“She was not this tragic figure; she was this glorious figure. Nandi always presented this great side until she really hit her back against the wall, and she would call me. There were times it felt like she was going to be on the street; she was losing her house. As great an actor as she was, it didn’t protect her from the tough world,” he said.
Lerato also unleashed her fury to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC). This was after Sibusiso Tsanyane delivered a speech on behalf of Minister Gayton McKenzie.
The former Isibaya actress then stormed onto the podium and said: “Please do tell the minister that going forward, artists will no longer allow the department to come celebrate with us. We are not fighting the department. But we are fighting with the system that has been putting actors down our whole lives.”
Lerato went further, demanding real policy change instead of recycled speeches.
“I would have loved to hear a speech that speaks not on promises made by the minister but works on adjusting or changing the policies in place. How long must we hear the same speech? How long must we have the same engagements about the need for policy structures that are going to protect us as actors?”
Nandi will be remembered for the roles she played on Yizo Yizo, Zone 14, Adulting, Isibaya, Isithunzi and many others.
