Renowned South African actresses Thembi Mtshali and Leleti Khumalo have been honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 2ND ANNUAL Golden Elephant Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony, held at the Market Theatre in Newtown recently.
The esteemed Lifetime Achievement Award is presented by Word of Mouth Pictures and Duma Ndlovu Academy to individuals who have made a profound and lasting impact on the creative industry, both locally and internationally. This year’s recipients, Thembi Mtshali and Leleti Khumalo, join the ranks of John Kani, the first recipient of the award who was meant to hand the awards to this year’s recipients but had to rush to London for a Disney (Lion King) project.
Mtshali-Jones is widely recognised as one of South Africa’s most celebrated actresses, known for her remarkable performances in popular television series such as Sgudi ‘Snaysi, Stokvel, Silent Witness, and Imbewu. Her influence on South African entertainment is truly remarkable.
Khumalo, equally lauded for her outstanding talent, is best known for her iconic role in the movie and stage play Sarafina! She has also captured audiences in films like Hotel Rwanda, Yesterday, and Invictus, as well as in television series like Imbewu: The Seed and Uzalo. Currently on Muvhango.
The 2ND ANNUAL Golden Elephant Lifetime Achievement Awards celebrates not only South African talent but also international luminaries whose contributions have played a pivotal role in shaping African arts for more than two decades. This esteemed recognition aims to commemorate outstanding achievements in the global arts and further elevate the creative industry on a global scale.
“We are deeply honoured and grateful to receive the Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 2nd Annual Golden Elephant Ceremony. It’s a recognition of our years of dedication to the arts, and we hope to continue inspiring others through our work,” said Ms. Mtshali-Jones.
“We are humbled by this prestigious award and thankful for the opportunity to contribute to the creative industry. This recognition motivates us to keep pushing boundaries and telling meaningful stories through our art,” said Khumalo.
Duma Ndlovu, Executive Producer of Word of Mouth Pictures and DNA Academy, stated that the award is given to individuals who are recognised for their exceptional contributions and impact on the creative industry. He emphasised that the purpose of the award is to sustain and invigorate the creative industry.
“Creativity is the heartbeat of the industry, and we must recognise and celebrate those who make extraordinary contributions to keep it alive,” said Ndlovu.
