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Somizi Mhlongo and Mohale Motaung during the official screening of Somizi and Mohale: Union White Wedding Episode at Morrells Boutique Hotel on March 12, 2020 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images / Oupa Bopape)
These days he may inhabit the high sacred halls of Celebville, but Somizi reminds us that we are all complex and flawed people.
First published in Daily Maverick 168
As soon as Somizi rejected the allegations that she had stolen the concept for her TV cooking show, she was launching a social media giveaway for her viewers, while also celebrating her first wedding anniversary with her partner, Mohale Motaung.
You would expect nothing less from the son of two television stars, Mary Twala and Ndaba “Mshefane” Mhlongo. Somizi Mhlongo has seen it, and has, all before.
He moves like someone who lives by the mantra “Today’s newspapers are just the fish and chips of tomorrow.” As for Somizi, the show must go on forever.
More than two weeks ago, Somizi and the producers of her cooking show, Dinner at Somizi’s, faced accusations of intellectual property theft by Hastings Moeng.
As is the custom now, he took to his Instagram to address the allegations, denying everything, before making the reckless comment that Moeng “might be copyrighted. [sic] the idea was fine and he sold it to anyone ”.
“I didn’t steal anyone’s concept and I’ll never again say that I came up with an original concept. I was inspired by many programs, “he added.
It irritated many observers, including myself, who have long been wary of the insularity of the South African entertainment industry, where production companies and broadcasters hire untrained personalities to host programs and campaigns.
South Africa is plagued by unemployment and, sadly, unemployment is a way of life for many creatives, including those with a university education. This week, Mohale had to deny claims that she landed a role in the new M-Net soap opera Legacy, thanks to her partner’s great influence in the entertainment industry.
This article, however, is less about whether he is responsible for the latter implication. Of course, it’s not Somizi’s fault that he has friends in high places and charisma galore to boot. It’s wildly entertaining to watch, whether it’s on Dinner at Somizi’s, Living the Dream with Somizi, Idols SA, on stage while hosting events, or even on their IGTV channel.
“I’m not a singer, I’m not a radio DJ, I’m just passing through,” he said previously, “because I’m versatile and I have guts. I have the nerve. Do you know what makes me earn millions? I am too enthusiastic. They pay me to be too enthusiastic. ”
As the title sequence of his reality show suggests, “You can do anything, ningenza noma yini.” These days, Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung exists on a different level of celebville inhabited only by a few in this country. It is a terrain where the occupants are almost impervious to criticism and disapproval. After all, he grew up surrounded by divas like Brenda Fassie, Lebo Mathosa, Yvonne Chaka-Chaka, and Miriam Makeba – powerful and outspoken personalities who lived life to the fullest.
There is something to be said about a queer man who has had to watch and hear people criticize and demean him since he was a teenager, and he still lives and consumes life so voraciously. In a scene from his reality show, he says: “As a gay man, you grow up without a sense of belonging due to social perceptions that being gay is a choice … it affects me.” However, he has shown admirable resilience.
It’s an odd thing to say of someone who caught the eye most of 30 years ago when she appeared in Sarafina (and will be turning 48 in December), but it seems Somizi really became a celebrity less than a decade ago.
It is its authenticity that distinguishes it from others and makes it a magnetic force. In his bio, Dominoes, he mentions many incidents that derailed him and threatened to end his career, including a rape allegation 13 years ago.
In that sense, for the young people who were introduced to it recently, it is a late development, especially in an industry that values youth over experience. But if his purple patch was meant to be short-lived, he has shown agility and the ability to reinvent himself so often that even young personalities in his industry have had to draw their notes and take notes.
As a shark can repeatedly regrow its teeth, Somizi has repeatedly returned and is now enjoying a feeding frenzy. Now it’s really going from cultural to iconic in its own right.
Our media reflects general attitudes in society and whatever one feels about Somizi, her influence has helped spark conversations about LGBTQI + representation, and indeed, to some extent, paved the way for others, including Moshe Ndiki. , Lasizwe Dambuza and Khaya Dladla. Now he is to them, and to us, what Fassie, Mathosa and Makeba were to him so many years ago. A reminder that life and, indeed, stardom is something impermanent and must be impulsive.
Still, we expect celebrities to behave (or rather act) in a certain way, and he is the antidote to the archetype. It’s easy to see how his recent successes could not have been achieved if he had accepted our political correctness and played well.
It is its authenticity that distinguishes it from others and makes it a magnetic force. In his biography, Dominoes, he mentions many incidents that derailed him and threatened to end his career, including a rape allegation 13 years ago.
Somizi was arrested for sexual assault after he picked up a man who had asked for a ride while on his way home from a concert in Johannesburg. He tells his story that they flirted and ended up “fondling” at his house after a few drinks. He was eventually convicted and paid a fine of 3,000 rand, despite maintaining his innocence.
He played on the stereotype that LGBTQI + people, especially gay men, were predatory sexual threats, and it certainly was what led to him being out of work for several years.
After Lira approached her to choreograph the DVD of her live concert and was hired to work the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2010 World Cup, Somizi’s work took center stage again.
“I am proud to have been able to be as honest as possible and remember how and how they happened [in Dominoes]. Some people write books and feel they need to make edits as if the reader is not smart enough to learn it. They forget that you are sharing a story so that whoever reads it can find themselves in it. “
At Somizi, we have someone who reminds us that, queer or not, we are complex, multi-dimensional and flawed people who maybe we should hate ourselves a little less for that. If that makes you uncomfortable, don’t wear it. DM168
