Connie Temweka Gabisile Chiume (5 June 1952 – 6 August 2024) was a South African actress and filmmaker. She was known for her film roles in Black Panther, Black Is King and Blessers. On television, she appeared in S'gudi S'nyasi, Yizo Yizo 2, Zone 14, Rhythm City and Gomora.
Early life
Chiume was born on 5 June 1952 in the mining town of Welkom, South Africa. Her father Wright Tadeyo Chiume (d. 1983) was from Nkhata Bay, Malawi and her mother MaNdlovu (d. 2020) hailed from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her cousin, Ephraim Mganda Chiume is a Malawian politician.
Chiume spent her early childhood in Welkom. She completed her matric in the Eastern Cape and started training to become a nurse. However, she went on to graduate with a degree in teaching in 1976. In 1977, she left South Africa and became part of a touring musical group, visiting Greece and Israel with them.
Career
Chiume began her acting career with roles in productions of Porgy and Bess, Ipi Ntombi, and Little Shop of Horrors. She returned to South Africa as apartheid was ending. She was cast as Thembi in the 1989 series Inkom' Edla Yodwa and then the 1990 film Warriors from Hell. In 2000, she won the award for Best Actress in a Drama Series at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA).
In 2006, she starred in the stage productions of You Strike The Woman and You Strike The Rock. From 2007 to 2015, Chiume gained prominence through her role as Stella Moloi in the SABC1 drama series Zone 14, which earned her another SAFTA. She also received the Award for the Best Supporting Actress in a Drama during the 3rd SAFTA. In 2015, she appeared in the soap opera Rhythm City as Mamokete Khuse.
In 2018, Chiume played Zawavari, the elder of a mining tribe in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Panther. She starred in this role again in the film's 2022 sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
In 2020, Chiume landed the role of Mam'Sonto Molefe in the drama series Gomora and appeared in Beyoncé's film Black Is King. In October 2020, she received a Feather Award nomination. In 2022, she received the lifetime achievement award at the South African Film and Television Awards.
Personal life and death
Chiume was married from 1985 to 2004. She was a mother of four, with two sons and two daughters. She was born and raised in Welkom, South Africa.
Chiume died at the Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg on 6 August 2024, at the age of 72.
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes 1990 Warriors from Hell Marita 1994 The Air Up There Mrs Urudu 1999 Chikin Biznis ... The Whole Story! Thoko 2000 I Dreamed of Africa Wanjiku 2004 In My Country Virginia Tabata 2013 Fanie Fourie's Lobola Zinzi 2015 Lerato Pastor Short film 2018 Black Panther Zawavari 2019 Losing Lerato Gogo on Bus 2019 Blessers Ma-Lerato 2020 What Did You Dream? Koko Short film 2020 Black Is King Sarabi 2020 Seriously Single Dineo's Mom 2022 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Zawavari 2024 Heart of the Hunter 2025Meet the KhumalosMavis Khumalohttps://www.netflix.com/us/title/81708891?s=a&trkid=13747225&trg=cp&vlang=en&clip=82022894
Television
Year Title Role NotesRef 1989 Inkom' Edla Yodwa ThembiTelevision film 1994 The Line Rosie Television film 1997 A Woman of Color Government Official Television film 1998 Tierärztin Christine III: Abenteuer in Südafrika Mohlolohadi as thakane Television film; directed 2003 Soul City 2004 Mazinyo Dot Q Ma Mavuso 2007–2015 Zone 14 Stella Moloi 2015 Rhythm City Mamokete Khuse 2017 Thula's Vine Nothando 2020 Queen Sono Nana Rakau 2020 Gomora Mam'Sonto Molefe 2020 Choices 2024 Soon Comes Night Blood Legacy Mohlolohadi as thakane as Madlamini Ndlovu Television film
Achievements South Africa Film and Television Awards
! |- |2024 |Herself |Best Actress in a Telenovela
References
External links
Filmmakers, actors seek solutions to grow industry Ashukile Mwakisulu engages Connie Chiume on film industry