As a fan, I am deeply saddened by the loss of Connie Chiume, a truly remarkable actress who graced our screens with her talent and embodied the spirit of South Africa. Her journey from a nurse to an internationally acclaimed actress is nothing short of inspiring, a testament to her resilience and dedication.
Actress Connie Chiume, best known for her roles in ‘Black Panther’, ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ and Beyonce’s ‘Black Is King’, has sadly passed away at the age of 72.
It was announced on Instagram that Chiume passed away on Tuesday at Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. The reason for her passing has not yet been disclosed.
“Connie Chiume, the renowned and honored actress who won international acclaim, has sadly passed away, as stated by the Chiume Family. They kindly request solitude and understanding during this challenging time. More information will be shared later.”
Chiume was born on June 5, 1952, in Welkom, South Africa. Before venturing into the movie and television industry, she trained as a nurse and earned a teaching degree. According to The Independent, it wasn’t until 1977 that she embarked on her acting career by moving to Greece to join the cast of the musical “Sola Sola.”
Her fame grew within South African communities due to her portrayal of Thembi in the 1989 series, “Inkom’ Edla Yodwa.”
Further along her career, she became widely recognized as an actor, taking on roles such as Mamokete Khuse in the South African soap opera “Rhythm City,” alongside numerous other projects including “Warriors from Hell,” “The Line,” “I Dreamed of Africa,” “Yizo yizo,” “Zone 14,” “Home Affairs,” “Blessers,” “Umama” and “Jewel.”
In 2018, Chiume was chosen to play the role of a Zawavari, an elder from the Mining Tribe, in the Oscar-winning movie “Black Panther”. She took up this character again in the 2022 sequel titled “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, where her character assumed the position previously held by Zuri (played by Forest Whitaker), becoming Wakanda’s Elder Statesman.
In 2022, she shared with South Africa’s Sunday Times that she hadn’t anticipated the massive success of Black Panther. She recalled going to an audition blind about the role. Upon being given a piece to perform, she recognized it was an African character addressing the nation. She wore her traditional African attire, memorized her lines, and gave her best.
In addition to her role, Chiume was also depicted as Simba’s mother Sarabi in the movie “Black Is King,” a musical production inspired by Beyoncé’s album soundtrack “The Lion King: The Gift.”
As a gamer, I’ve been fortunate enough to snag some awards over my gaming career. In the year 2000, I won the NTVA Avanti Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series, all thanks to my captivating performance in “Soul City”. Fast forward almost a decade, and I added another trophy to my collection in 2009, taking home the SAFTA award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama, for my remarkable role in “Zone 14”.
According to The Independent, Chiume leaves behind four kids. Her marriage spanned the years from 1985 to 2004.
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2024-08-07 07:27