Somizi Mhlongo is reflecting on the extraordinary artistic heritage that helped shape him, as the media personality and radio host continues to honour the lasting influence of his late parents, Ndaba Walter Mhlongo and Mary Twala.
During an appearance on Radio 702’s Afternoons with Relebogile Mabotja, Somizi spoke about being raised by two South African entertainment trailblazers: his father, a groundbreaking comedian and choreographer, and his mother, the beloved screen veteran Mary Twala. He said their achievements created the foundation for his own life in performance and the arts.
Rather than feeling weighed down by their towering reputations, Somizi said he viewed his future success as inevitable. To people unaware of his family history, he suggested that his ascent in entertainment may look surprising. For him, however, growing up around such exceptional talent meant he never believed failure could be his outcome.
“I had no choice, I was going to be successful,” Somizi said. “I had no choice. Even if I wanted to fail, I was not going to fail because I come from iconic talents.”
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Somizi also revisited his father’s pioneering place in local television and comedy. Ndaba Mhlongo was among South Africa’s earliest TV comedians, and his son said the performer developed a highly distinctive style that often did not rely on written dialogue.
“My dad is one of the first comedians on television,” Somizi explained. “My dad is the one who shifted and twisted the scripts, and in comedy, [he] never used a script. He used to act as if he stuttered because he struggled to memorise lines… He was a visionary. He broke barriers for comedy in this country.”
Ndaba Mhlongo’s work was not limited to television. He also made a major mark in theatre, co-choreographing the landmark musical Sarafina! with Mbongeni Ngema. The production brought him a Tony Award nomination for Best Choreography on Broadway in 1988.
The family connection to Sarafina! later continued through Somizi himself. As a young performer, he appeared in the celebrated 1992 movie version, a breakthrough role that placed him firmly in South African pop-culture history and launched his own path as both a dancer-choreographer and entertainer.
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“He was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Choreography in a musical,” Somizi said of his father. “Like, people don’t know that.”
His praise for Mary Twala was just as heartfelt. The acclaimed actress worked across film and television for more than 60 years, delivering a succession of memorable South African performances before her death in 2020. Her final major screen chapter included an international appearance in Beyoncé’s musical film Black Is King.
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“My mother’s work ethic is unparalleled – till the end,” Somizi reflected. “And how iconic that she ends with a Beyoncé movie.”
With a family history built on pioneering work, creativity and cultural impact, Somizi remains committed to preserving the legacy established by the two icons who came before him.
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