Sunday’s premiere of Mzansi Wethu’s first original drama series, Isibopho, has elevated a Kariega-born teen’s shining star as she also debuts her acting career to the nation on the show.
Bahle Vilakati, the 17-year-old daughter of Eastern Cape Film Festival founder Nceba Mqolomba, is following in her father’s footsteps and keeping the creative film and TV gene alive in the family.
The teen plays Amahle, the daughter of protagonist Thandi, whose husband and father-in-law are killed by her mother-in-law and brother in-law.
The story follows Amahle’s family life as tradition requires Thandi to marry her brother in-law and finds her own life in danger.
Vilakati, who found a home in front of the camera when she was just a year old, stars in the 16-part drama series alongside an all-star cast, including Jerry Mofokeng, Silindile Nodangala, and Sicelo Dlamini.
When she was only a year old, she debuted with her first advert for baby products brand Purity in a magazine.
More recently Vilakati starred in a Debonairs Pizza crammed crust TV commercial which aired in July 2020.
The rising star said working alongside a star-studded cast had been intimidating at first but exciting as she grew closer to the seasoned actors.
“I was very nervous in the early stages of filming and I felt like it was a huge responsibility, but as time went by I started enjoying my time there and they didn’t make me feel as nervous as I originally was.
“Currently I’m very happy and excited about the show being out,” Vilakati said.
She said she planned to continue acting on the side while pursuing a dental hygienist career.
“I’ve also been advised by producers and experienced actors to keep acting as a side gig as it doesn’t bring in consistent income.
“Waiting for another acting gig or ad always takes some time,” she said.
Artistic talent runs in the youngster’s blood, with her father Mqolomba a film enthusiast with more that five years in the film sector and her maternal great-grandmother, the late Miriam Makeba, an internationally celebrated music legend.
Mqolomba, who has two daughters, said he expected his younger daughter Athi to be in the limelight.
“Bahle is an introvert and Athi an extrovert. However, we’ve always made it a point to get her [Bahle] involved in a lot of things.
“She did ballet from a young age and also plays the piano.
“Because I’m also in the film industry, I’ve always taken her to sets where she got exposed to the industry,” Mqolomba said.
Although she still holds on to her dream to become a dental hygienist, Mqolomba said, Vilakati is also dedicated to acting.
He said she sometimes surprised even her parents with new acting roles they were not aware she had even auditioned for.
“She is signed to an agency but she really takes initiative and likes to be independent,” Mqolomba said.
She is now based in Johannesburg, where she stays with her mother.
“As a father, she has made me very proud.
“Looking at the calibre of actors that she’s with in the series, I am confident that she will learn a lot from them,” Mqolomba said.
Isibopho airs on Sundays at 9pm on Mzansi Wethu, DStv channel 163.
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