During a heartfelt service of the late Connie Chiume, her son Tumi Chiume delivered a powerful message about his mother’s struggles as an actress. In his speech, Tumi addressed the crowd with a question and the harsh realities faced by his mother in the entertainment industry.
According to a video posted by Kaya News on X, Tumi asked the crowd: “Is it fair to work a 70-year-old 16 hours a day?”
In his heartfelt speech, Tumi revealed the immense toll that years of dedication and hard work had taken on his mother. “She loved the industry she was fighting for the industry,” Tumi explained, his voice tinged with emotion. “I saw it from the back; it was painful for me. She was not rewarded for what she was supposed to be rewarded for. She was in pain because the industry was working her so hard She loved this industry so much.”
This is not the first time that the industry’s treatment of its artists has been brought into question. Veteran actress Vatiswa Ndara has previously made shocking allegations regarding the exploitation and abuse of actors on X (Twitter). In an open letter addressed to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa back in 2019, Vathiswa detailed some of the unfair labour practices, poor remuneration and working conditions she and others have faced.
However, with Women’s Month as a backdrop, Tumi made a heartfelt plea for change. “This is Women’s Month, I’m begging you on behalf of Mama (Mother), can you please stand up and fight for your rights,” he urged.
#ConnieChiume‘s son Tumi speaks out about the poor working conditions her mother endured in the industry.
He says at the age of 70 #ConnieChiume was required to work 16 hours a day. KH #KayaNews pic.twitter.com/8jMeqo8h34
— Kaya News (@KayaNews) August 15, 2024
Also see:‘I didn’t just lose a wife, I lost a friend’ – says the husband of Connie Chiume
