Talented, Tenacious & Triumphant: Zazi Kunene’s Life Unscripted
Born in the humble manger of KwaZulu-Natal’s sleepy hollow, Pietermaritzburg, with the light of stardom twinkling above her, prophesying the destiny of a new actress and dancer, Zazi Kunene’s life has been one that has contributed to the city’s long-standing lineage of industry stars such as international star Thuso Mbedu and TV personality Lunga Shabalala. From the wooden stages of theatre halls to the “lights, camera, action” of Netflix sets, Zazi’s glow-up has been a page-turner in her life story, the script flowing like a well-written scene spilling over into the next one.
In between being a bubbly 25-year-old and transitioning into the various worlds she’s had to portray with roles tailored for her to embody, she gave us a little window to peek through as to see how each of her mornings looked like before hitting the set.
“I always double-check my call sheet to make sure I’m not late. I pray, then I hop into the shower, play some music while brushing my teeth, then I’m good to start my day!” she said.
Zazi Kunene | SUPPLIED
Growing up as a Gen Z and a born-free, Kunene is part of the generation that has to shoulder the parental and societal pressures of “getting a real job”. What that entailed was anything that ranged from morphing into a doctor and lawyer to a teacher and a scientist, and oftentimes, children succumbed, in their formative years, to the guilt of not wanting to disappoint by straying from their parent’s expectations. For Zazi, however, the baby that was her dream for acting was a passion conceived with a zealous conviction that her life’s purpose was more a matter of alignment rather than obeying the status quo.
When it was time to sit down and ask herself what truly mattered in life, it wasn’t the voices of those around her that kept her feet steady on the tightrope but the innate knowledge that her being aligned with her divine purpose was all she needed to silence any external resistance.
“I wouldn’t say there’s anything I said to convince myself that acting is my lifelong pursuit. I just always believed that passion naturally accompanies you. There’s this burning desire. It’s an itch that desperately needs to be scratched. Then, one day things start to align for you, whether it’s in school or in the workplace. For me, it was a feeling, a sense that God was affirming, ‘This is where I am placing you,’” Kunene said.
Zazi Kunene | SUPPLIED
Not new to the craft of acting, Zazi bagged a dream call to be part of the Netflix original dance production JIVA! as Nolwazi, which not only was her introduction to the global stage but also a beckoning experience that called for her to elevate the bar she’d already set for herself and what she would set her sights on in the future. She went on to win the hearts of multitudes on eTV’s Smoke & Mirrors with her incarnation of Sindi, a charismatic yet chic belle with a winsome smile, youthful spunk, and girl-next-door personality.
As far as honouring the process is concerned, Zazi named renowned actress Lusanda Mbane and American superstar Viola Davis as her primary influences, singling them out for their impact on her work ethic and the lens with which she perceived herself. Diligent, passionate, and honest about their experiences as women, Zazi saw her future self reflected in the glory of Davis and Mbane, who championed her image as a Black girl.
“On Smoke & Mirrors, I got to work with Lusanda Mbane, and I had previously watched her work on Scandal!. I’ve always thought she was a strong performer, and I was in awe of how much presence she had. But once I worked with her, I got the chance to see her work ethic, and I think that took me to a different level! I have a great deal of respect for her as a multifaceted artist.
“Internationally, I look up to Viola Davis. She inspires me because of her passion for storytelling and her passion to represent the Black female body. In one of her articles, she said: ‘I felt that being an actor was a silly dream for a shy, poor, Black girl from Central Falls, Rhode Island.’ When Viola said this, I felt seen. As a young Black girl who didn’t come from much, had a speech impediment and didn’t see herself becoming anything, I felt like I mattered. That’s when I decided I need to do this for the next little Zazi out there. She needs to believe that it is indeed possible,” Zazi said.
Zazi Kunene | SUPPLIED
When she’s away from the camera, Zazi classified herself as a girl who’d rather be at the waterpark, cruising with roller skates on, or searching for any daring activities to have a stab at. On top of that, she divulged – a top secret, according to her – that not only did she love immersing herself in PlayStation games but that she was an aspiring world-class gamer. The self-styled pretender when it comes to cooking (she was very much in a mood for sharing secrets) shared one recipe, however, that has worked for her, one she felt her fans would not have a hard time swallowing.
“Keep your head above the water. Be courageous. Do not compare yourself to anyone because there’s only one you. Follow your passion fearlessly and if you get scared… do it anyway.” she said.