This post is a tribute to my acting hero and legend, Bab
Joe Mafela- allow me to give him my tribute as he is sadly laid to rest this
morning. For as long as I remember, “Sdumo” as I often referred to him was the
first TV show I ever knew and enjoyed. My father would have all episodes taped
on VCR and tapes of all “Sgudis’Nys” episodes were at our disposal in the
lounge room divider. I fondly remember sitting on the carpet in front of the TV
rewinding on the VCR my favourite parts of the series. I would watch the
episodes all day; over and over without ceasing. Sdumo became our everyday
lingo and we as a family were in stitches each time we would watch an episode;
to the extent where we still to this day use some lines on “Sgudis’Nys” as ways
of communicating or as code names or even inside jokes.
On the 19th of March 2017, while browsing the
trending news online, I came across a Facebook post shared by a friend
extending condolences to the Mafela family and reminiscing on the late legend.
This had to be a joke! There was no way in heaven or in hell could the man who
was the happy part of my childhood be dead. The man who inspired me to be on
television and the man my fathers friends referred to me as because I always
knew I wanted to be an actor. I nervously googled the news and to my dismay –
trusted publications confirmed the news- shortly after, my actor friends began
calling me to inform me on the news- everybody who knows anything about me will
tell you how much Bab Joe was a legend to me and sadly my dream of some day
meeting him or working with him did not come true.
I feel such a tremendous loss as if I knew him. I am
grateful to have had intimate moments in conversation with his former co-stars
on various productions I have been working on such as the great Mam Thembi
Mtshali-Jones who I mentioned before to be a former co-star of mine and first guest on my
television show and very recently sis Tina Jaxa who worked with him on “Madam
and Eve” and in my moments with them, Bab Joe’s aura would magically fill the
atmosphere. As tributes continued to pour in for him it slowly began to sink in
that my hero was no more and that I would never see him again. I wanted to
thank him personally for being my solace and happy place during my childhood, I
wanted to thank him for what his concept of “Sgudis’Nys” did for the nation of
South Africa; SABC wanted a sitcom that would make black people laugh again.
South Africa was in ruins- complete turmoil and my people were filled with pain
and despair, there was no laughter but just tears and pools of blood and with
the arrival of “Sgudis’Nys” my people could laugh again.
Memories are too much to document in just one moving tribute
but I can’t help but think of the times I got my cousins addicted to Sdumo. We
would sit all day in grandma’s lounge in our pyjamas watching and laughing at
him, Referring to him as “iMbungulu” and reacting the scenes and dialogue which
would leave us in stitches. Tears and smiles all in one go fill my face as I
honour my legend- a legend I never met. I guess I was a step closer when
moments came full circle when working on a penguin film production that
produced “Sgudis’Nys” under the renowned Roberta Durrant who became my
executive producer not so long ago. I suppose that was my step closer to my
legend and I can firmly say if it hadn’t been for him- I would have never
pursued an acting career. He certainly will always have a special place in my
heart and will never be forgotten- ever.
Bab Joe, in the choral song Sylvia; “Andisa funi nokuthetha
mna. Kaloku namhlanje siyohlukana”. But it ends with the line “Ndlela ntle”. Go
well ‘Sdums, siqashi sika Sis May, Mbongolo ka Gogo”. Thank you for the laughs,
thank you for healing the nation with your talent, thank you for inspiring me
to come pursue my dreams. As my late father would say when departing; “Next
time we meet- we shall smile” –Julius Ceaser, Shakespear J
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