South African actor Cornet Mamabolo has spoken candidly about the pressure and honour of portraying anti-apartheid activist Peter Mokaba in the upcoming historical film Studying Under the Barrel of a Gun.
Speaking to Sowetan, the actor shared that the role is different from his Skeem Saam role of Tbose, which he is renowned for. As such, it required extensive preparation and emotional commitment.
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A role rooted in South African history
The film is inspired by the 1986 student resistance movement at the University of the North, now known as the University of Limpopo. It explores the experiences of students who fought against apartheid-era oppression and military occupation on campus.
Mamabolo explained that portraying a real-life political figure was vastly different from playing fictional characters.
Playing the role of an iconic human being who was also an activist and a giant in society, the actor also shared that he had to study archival footage and speak to people who knew Mokaba personally in order to capture his mannerisms and public speaking style authentically.
Cornet Mamabolo makes executive producer debut
Beyond acting, the project also marks Mamabolo’s debut as an executive producer. The actor revealed that working behind the scenes brought a new level of responsibility and pressure, especially because the film was independently funded.
He said the production team was determined to honour the stories of young activists who played a significant role in South Africa’s liberation struggle.
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According to Mamabolo, filming at the University of Limpopo added emotional depth to the production because many of the events portrayed in the film happened there in real life.
Fans welcome Mamabolo’s return to acting
Mamabolo stepped away from full-time acting in recent years to focus on business ventures, including hospitality projects in Limpopo. His return to the screen has been warmly received by fans eager to see him tackle a more serious and historically significant role.
Also see: Internet users reflect on 15 years of ‘Skeem Saam’
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