LONALINAMANDLA FINALLY GETS HER BREAKTHROUGH

By: Sitembile Mazaleni

After 7 years Lonalinamandla Mihlali Bawuti (28) finally receives positive feedback from the numerous unsuccessful auditions she has been to as a young actress. The selfless humorous Lonalinamandla is amongst the cast of the new exciting telenovela Gqeberha The Empire on Mzansi Magic as Nobom Mxenge in cooperation with the legendary Zikhona Sodlaka and Zandile Msuthwana.

Image from Facebook

Lonalinamandla was born and bred in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape as the lastborn out of two children. Her supportive mother and family are the reason behind her sense of humour and kindness.

She said, “When I am at home I become a child, there is no one who teases me like her.”

With the widest smile, she added, “Her love and support is amazing. In the next life, I want to have her as a mother again.”

“9 days after graduating I realised office work is not my thing, I just cannot stand routine. The very last audition I did, my mum was holding the camera because my ring lighter broke…I swear I am blessed, and this is only the beginning.”

Lonalinamandla studied Science stream subjects at Khanyisa High School in Mthatha, then went for the greener pastures in Gauteng. She studied an Advertising qualification from Boston College, Performing Arts at Actor Space, and Film and Television studies at City Varsity School of Media and Performing Arts.

Image from Facebook

This woman’s hustling spirit cannot be matched, she became popular when she went to twitter to promote her sister’s fruit and vegetable stand. She advertised and worked as a street vendor with her sister at Memela Taxi rank in Mthatha.

Numerous people got to know Lonalinamandla when she compassionately organised and pleaded with her Facebook friends to donate money to take an underprivileged boy to initiation school.

In one of her posts she posted, “I am waiting for my Doctors and Lawyer friends to get paid because I know we can help this family.”

Her posts were shared using, #UmgidikaBoy. It trended to an extent that big brands and companies started to chip in their donations and the money amounted to close to R180 000. Her campaign became a huge success and tiktokers, tweeps, and bookers began calling her “Izibazana leCountry” (the Country’s mother of the initiate).

After the entire celebration with the boy’s family and the public’s gratitude towards Lonalinamandla, she saw it fit to start a project where she picks less fortunate people and buys them necessities such as food, school wear, etc. She was also part of the leading people in the Gender Based Violence (GBV) case #JusticeForNamhla campaign in Mthatha High Court.

Image from Facebook

Though Lonalinamandla does not shy away from publicising her love life, her disclosing that she is a GBV survivor came as a shock. She detailed her traumatic experience in a thread, “I went to support a fellow actor who had a theatre showpiece about GBV. Not me being all emotional, I wish I could start afresh just to insult him.”

Some people try to bring this young woman down by cyberbullying her, but she prefers to avoid anything that is harmful to her mental health, brand, and loved ones. Her friends and fans are always ready to defend her.

A lot can be sad about the opinionated Lonalinamandla, her personality, and her positive approach to life lessons and misfortunes, she truly reflects her favourite quote, “I am a woman of positive influence, a sunshine that will brighten up your day.”