Aphiwe Mkefe’s Star On The Rise: Interview   

Born and raised in the vibrant streets of a township called Langa in Cape Town. Aphiwe Mkefe is an ambitious and determined 23-year-old.

His craft for acting even though unknown to him has been years in the making.

With always having been a part of school plays, his passion for performing is where he first encountered acting and through this craft found himself being active in everything theatrical.

He then graduated and went on to Pinelands high school where he found his love for sports such as basketball which he even captained.

While in high school he was also quite active in his extra activities which led to finding his voice at church joining various singing groups and eventually joining The Cape Town Ensemble where he sang Bass and Baritone.

Aphiwe is a product of the AFDA film school where he did theatre and screen performance for a year and completed his degree in film writing and directing.

Impulse Africa Magazine Team recently caught up with Aphiwe see below interview and get to know more about the rising South African actor.

• Briefly tell us about yourself?

Hi my name’s Aphiwe Mkefe, I am from Cape Town & I am a huge fan of Filmmaking.

• How would you describe your journey as an actor so far?

One word to describe my journey as an actor thus far would be: H for Hectic but B for Blessed (that’s my one word)

• Your breakout role on Mzansi Magic drama series Nkululeko, how did it come about and what impact did it have in your career moving forward?

Nkululeko came from an open casting call that I responded to, went through a couple of audition phases and got the role.

It was really quite seamless I knew I was doing well never expected the very first ever acting audition I go to be mine never mind it being a lead role even on primetime television.

It was so crazy to me, I was flooded with excitement and then nerves as soon as I realized the scale of this project but nevertheless I knew I had to stay calm as I had planned for this and it was all part of The Plan.

The impact it had on my career was enormous as it opened up major doors for me and ushered me into the industry on a grand scale, I was able to learn and better prepare myself for future endeavors.

READ: Surviving Gaza unearth new gem in Botlhale Mahlangu: Interview 

• Where do you draw inspiration from as an Actor?

My inspiration as an actor is drawn from life itself and all the good and all the bad.

I love listening to different people from all walks of life as it gives me as a person better perspective on the world and different paths.

It helps me understand the world in a much more well-rounded way forever reminding the human ego within. That my experience is not an isolated incident that there are many experiences and perspectives on such out there.

• Your role on Letters of Hope, how did it come about and how would you describe your relationship and chemistry with director Vusi Afrika?

Vusi Afrika, the mad genius I like to call him – discovered me on Nkululeko but thought I was based in Cape Town.

His wife who is a lecturer at the film school I was attending, spotted me and stole my numbers from the database.

I got a call from this very energetic guy asking me to read his script he would like to know what I think. I was like “wtf?” but I loved the script and after our very first meeting we hit it off and I knew even before shooting just based off of the sheer will to get this project done that it would do well.

It turned out to do better than we had projected also forming lifelong friendships and relationships with Vusi Africa and the team who we also just did our second feature film with titled Surviving Gaza set for release early this year for ETV.

• Lakutshon’Langa has been a huge success another film you were a part of, how has the success of this film impacted your life since its release?

Lakutshon’ILanga has been the greatest success project of all the projects I have done so far and all of its success has been international nominations and awards.

What these have done for me is that it’s made the world for me so much larger and smaller all at once now being able to converse directly with industry practitioners in Hollywood.

And talking and showcasing my local films globally to setting up zoom meetings and Q&A sessions with publications I have always dreamed of being on.

Such as Variety and True Hollywood Reporter to being in talks with Hollywood actors such as Coleman Domingo.

 It has truly been a blessing I am learning so much from, it’s shown me there is plenty more to be done with each territory gained.

•  Growing up in Cape Town, Kwa Langa, how did your surroundings influence you into becoming an actor?

Growing up Kwa Langa eKapa taught me a lot about self-worth, the streets and just how to move in life in general.

Langa also has a rich history of Arts & Culture being the home of Legends such as Brenda Fassie, Vuyiswa Mdunyelwa, AmaMpondo, Tony Gum and Aphiwe Mkefe (if I can add so myself ).

• Any upcoming projects you are currently working on? And what can people expect from Aphiwe in 2022?

My love for filmmaking has led me to other projects and I now have an initiative called Film Friday where we host some of the best local talent in Filmmaking and showcase their works be it short films, feature films and Documentaries.

This initiative was brought about by a need in the market and industry – since Covid-19 hit we have not been able to attend cinemas and film festivals.

This resulted in many creatives not having a home to house their works and not being able to get their projects out there to be seen and supported.

Film Friday caters to this need bringing upcoming talent and industry professionals under one roof to connect, network and learn from each other.

Another proud moment for me was seeing one of the films selected at my festival be acquired by Amazon Prime and is now being hosted on their streaming site to be viewed globally – this is what it’s all about!

• Advice for upcoming filmmakers and screen performers on how to navigate the film industry in SA?

My advice for upcoming filmmakers and actors looking to navigate the RSA industry would be to simply not, like stop just don’t.. Unless you have to because if you have to, you will.

• Any advice on how local film can accommodate more young talent like you?

Advice for local film on accommodating talent like myself would be to create more spaces for the modern day actor.

We need to move past the theatrics and come into the new dawn of naturalism and create more spaces such as that.

A film culture needs to be renewed in RSA, a sense of patriotism in our own works and people will go a very long way for us as a people and how we see ourselves.

• What are you most grateful for right now?
  
  

What I am most grateful for right now is that I am able to wake up each and every day and work on my dreams, what a blessing.