By C. J. De Mel, Jadetimes News
Connie Chiume, a South African veteran actress noted for her role in Marvel's "Black Panther," died Tuesday at 72. Her family confirmed the death, saying that she died in the afternoon on Tuesday after she was admitted for a medical procedure at a Johannesburg hospital. Chiume, a name quite recognizable not only in South African television but also international film, leaves behind a legacy marked with versatility and long lasting impressions on the industry.
Chiume boasts of a sprawling career that spans several decades, with such iconic South African TV shows as "Rhythm City," "Zone 14," and lately, "Gomora." Originally from the popular 1989 series "Inkom' Edla Yodwa," she became a household name over time, earning accolades for her effort in film and television.
She is best known for playing Zawavari in the 2018 film "Black Panther" and its 2022 sequel, "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." She played a member of the Wakandan Tribal Council and succeeded Zuri, played by Forest Whitaker, as Wakanda's Elder Statesman in the films. Another notable appearance is the role of Sarabi, Simba's mother, that Chiume played in Beyoncé's Disney musical film adaptation of "The Lion King."
Born in Welkom, Free State province, she was the child of a Malawian father and Zulu mother. Chiume originally trained as a nurse and then as a teacher before making her way into mainstream television through her passion for acting, whereupon she would have become very much loved and influential. Among her major awards are the NTVA Avanti Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for "Soul City" in 2000 and the SAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for "Zone 14" in 2009.
In one of her final interviews on the MacG Podcast in 2022, Chiume expressed the desire to be remembered by the different impact that she had on each person's life, saying "I have impacted each and every person in a different way. Whatever way I have impacted you, remember me that way."
Tributes have been sent on social media, and fans and colleagues alike celebrate her sterling contributions toward the South African television industry. The South African government recognized her works and said, "Her sterling work will always be remembered."
Connie Chiume is survived by her four children: two sons and two daughters. Though the family has asked for space as they go through a very trying time in their lives, they will make more details known in due course.
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