Joe Mafela

Joe "Sdumo" Mafela (25 June 1942 – 18 March 2017)[1] was a South African actor, writer, producer, director, singer, and businessman.

Joe Mafela
Born
Joseph Dau Mafela

25 June 1942
Limpopo, South Africa
Died18 March 2017(2017-03-18) (aged 74)
M1 North, Johannesburg, South Africa
Cause of deathCar Accident
Resting placeWestpark Cemetery, Johannesburg
OccupationActor • Musician • Comedian • Producer • Director • Businessman • Writer
Years active1962 - 2017
Notable work
Sgudi Snaysi & Generations
Spouse(s)
Andronica Mafela
​
(m. after 1971)​
ChildrenMpho Mafela & Jimmy Mafela

Career

Mafela was born in Sibasa, Transvaal, South Africa, and brought up in Kliptown and White City Jabavu, in Soweto, near Johannesburg, and then his family remained until 1990 in the Tshiawelo Township that had been set aside for Venda people under Apartheid. He began acting in movies at the age of twenty-two. He played the role of an editor in the movie, Real News. He joined the South African film company SA Films, and over the following 20 years he worked as a producer and director as well as a film actor. He also managed the multi-ethnic dance troupes Mzumba, Sangoma, and the Gold Reef Dancers, which performed in feature films, theaters, and hotels and appeared on four continents.[2] In 1974 Mafela co-starred in the first all-black movie made in South Africa, as Peter Pleasure in Udeliwe. He worked with director Peter R. Hunt (famed for the James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service) in the 1976 film Shout at the Devil.[3]

With the advent of television in South Africa in 1976, Mafela worked almost continuously in that medium. In 1986 he was cast as the unemployed lodger S'dumo in the Zulu language comedy series 'Sgudi 'Snaysi. The success of 'Sgudi 'Snaysi ("Is Good, Is Nice") – which ran to 78 episodes on SABC – led to roles in other series, often produced by Mafela's own production company Penguin Films. It also encouraged Mafela to enter the advertising industry, working as Creative Director of Black Communications at BBDO South Africa and, since 1992, as a director of Sharrer Advertising in Johannesburg.[4]

Mafela conceptualised and starred in early Chicken Licken television commercials, and authored the company's "It's good, good, good, it's good its nice" jingle during the making of a Chicken Licken commercial in 1986.[5][6][7]

In 1996, Gallo Records released the album Shebeleza Fela, with the popular hit "Shebeleza (Congo Mama)".[8] It was a huge success, and "Shebeleza" was a theme song during the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996.[3] Since then, Mafela recorded and released several other albums of Zulu-language songs.[3]

Sometimes called "the face of South African entertainment",[2] and "South Africa's Bill Cosby",[9] he starred as recently as 2011 in the thriller Retribution.[4] Nonetheless, the aging Mafela complained in 2012 that it was hard for him to get acting work. He said he has been told that he is "old and cold".[2] He was in a car accident on the 18 March 2017, on the M1 north of Johannesburg, where two cars were involved. He died immediately, leaving behind his wife and four children. He was laid to rest on 29 March 2017 at the Westpark Cemetery in Johannesburg.

Awards

In 2004 Mafela was awarded a special Duku Duku award for his services to the South African television industry.[10] In 2005 he was awarded a Theatre Management of South Africa Lifetime Achievement award at the Naledi Theatre Awards.[11]

Filmography

Discography
  • "Shebeleza Felas" (1995)[8]
  • "The Fort E No. 4" (2007)[12]
  • "Greatest Moments" (2015)[13]

References
  1. Modise, Kgomotso. "Joe Mafela's family confirm actor was killed in car accident". Primedia Broadcasting. EWN. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  2. "Joe Mafela". Moonyeenn Lee Associates. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  3. "Joe "Sdumo" Mafela | South African History Online". Sahistory.org.za. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  4. Smith, Theresa (28 July 2011). "Acting veteran keeps the passion alive". IOL. Archived from the original on 23 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  5. Boucher, Chana (4 September 2012). "Entrepreneur Profiles – Chicken Licken: George Sombonos". Entrepreneur Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  6. "The cast: Joe Mafela". Mail & Guardian. 11 August 2011. Archived from the original on 23 August 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  7. Pitman, Juliet (11 November 2009). "Entrepreneur Profiles – Chicken Licken: George Sombonos". Entrepreneur Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  9. "Joe Mafela Profile - Photos, Wallpapers, Videos, News, Movies, Joe Mafela Songs, Pics". In.com. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  10. "SA's celebrities glitter". News24. 5 October 2004. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 October 2006. Retrieved 15 March 2006.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Joe Mafela". amazon.com. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  13. "Greatest Moments Of by Joe Mafela". Open.spotify.com. 26 January 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
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