South African stars who flew Mzansi’s flag high in 2022

They came, they saw, they conquered their dreams abroad and they did it all while flying South Africa’s flag high in 2022. 

From Trevor Noah to DJ Black Coffee, these Mzansi stars had people talking in Europe, America, and Asia. 

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Thuso Mbedu

Pietermaritzburg-born actress, Thuso Mbedu, has been making waves in Hollywood over the past few years but 2022 has to be one of her biggest years. She scored her first #1 movie in America with 'The Woman King'.  Mbedu starred alongside Oscar-winner, Viola Davis, in the film. 

The 31-year-old also featured on the cover of several magazines in 2022, including The Wrap, Essence, and Women's Health. She dedicated her Women's Health cover to her grandmother. 

"Your girl has achieved a lot of her goals but never did she ever imagine herself being on the cover of @womenshealthmagsa. She’s on there with her ABS and booty cheeks on the cover and she looks great -(the “Thuso Mbedu bikini” google search will finally have results. I know you’d adjust your false teeth and try to make sense of it but I also know that you’d be on the phone calling and telling everyone to go buy it because you were always proud of EVERYTHING your girls did," she wrote. 

ALSO READ: Thuso Mbedu, Selena Gomez, Hailey Bieber wow at Academy Museum Gala

Trevor Noah

South African comedian Trevor Noah closed a big chapter in his career when he bid farewell to 'The Daily Show' in December. The 38-year-old left the show on his terms and has big plans for 2023. If 2022 is anything to go by then the stand-up comedy king can expect an amazing New Year. 

Noah started the year strong with a big hosting gig at the 2022 Grammys.  He took things up a notch a few weeks later when the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, which was attended by US president, Joe Biden.  

Noah also released his third Netflix comedy special, 'I Wish You Would', in November. He wrapped up his time on 'The Daily Show' with interviews with Barack Obama and Will Smith.

And as if that wasn't enough, the Recording Academy just announced that Noah will host the Grammys in 2023 for the third time.

ALSO READ: Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates, Jesse Williams give Trevor Noah a 'heartfelt goodbye'

Kim Engelbrecht

South African actress Kim Engelbrecht received her first International Emmy (iEmmy) nomination in 2022. She received the nod for her role in 'Reyka'. She the is fifth African actress in history to be nominated. Her performance also earned her a SAFTA award for 'Best Actress'.

The 42-year-old appeared in another American TV series this year. She played Decima in season two of 'Raised By Wolves'. The popular HBO Max series was shot in South Africa.  

"To be able to work on a show on this scale and working with producers like Ridley Scott and writers that have made shows like 'The Good Wife'... it adds an element of grandness to it. When you get to these kind of productions you want to be able to hold your own and enjoy it. Try to do you best and not be too intimidated by the scale of it," she told SowetanLive in an interview. 

ALSO READ: LISTEN: Kim Engelbrecht joins DKS to chat Emmy nomination!

Connie Chiume

Connie Chiume reprised her role in the 'Black Panther' sequel in 2022. The movie stars Lupita Nyong’o, Letitia Wright, and Angela Bassett. The movie's premiere was bittersweet for the cast as they bid a final farewell to Chadwick Boseman's character T'Challa (Black Panther). The actor lost his battle with cancer in 2020. 

Chiume played a mining tribe elder in both 'Black Panther' (2018) and 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' (2022). The 70-year-old attended the movie's premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood in November. Chiume - who won three 'Lifetime Achievement Awards' in 2022 - got to hang out with the likes of Rihanna,  actor Michael Ealy and Nigerian superstar Burna Boy.

The 'Black Panther' sequel made more than $780 million (R13.4 billion) at the box office. 

ALSO READ: SA actor Atandwa Kani honours Chadwick Boseman with a tattoo

Carol Ofori

East Coast Radio presenter, Carol Ofori, was nominated for an international SOVAS Voice Arts award in 2022.

"Still can’t believe it! I have been nominated for an international @societyvoicearts in one of the international voice categories! Like the awards are live in Hollywood Warner Bro Studios on 18 December! These are the Oscars of the voice world. Like recipients of these awards include Sigourney Weaver, Gerard Butler and Kate Winslet to name a few. I am just so so stoked I am nominated and I completely humbled. Been doing voice-overs for so many years and this nomination has been such a blessing  and reassurance. Thank you," she wrote on Instagram.

ALSO READ: #WCW: Carol Ofori's greatest achievement for 2022, her SOVAS Voice Arts Award

Being nominated is great but winning is even better! Yes, our girl Carol did us proud and brought home an international award in 2022. 

DJ Black Coffee

One of the best deejays in the world is South Africa's very own Black Coffee. The 46-year-old was booked and busy with sets all over Europe and North America. But his biggest highlight of 2022 has to be the moment he won his first-ever Grammy award. His album, 'Subconsciously', won in the 'Best Dance/Electronic Album' category.

President Cyril Ramphosa congratulated Black Coffee on his win. "Thank you for flying the flag and inspiring a new generation of talent to take over the world," Ramphosa tweeted. 

Black Coffee also got to work with big artists in 2022, including Drake. He was listed as an executive producer on the Canadian's album, 'Honestly, Nevermind'.

ALSO READ: Drake praises "heroic figure" DJ Black Coffee in Instagram shout out

Zakes Bantwini

Staying with the Grammys, KwaMashu singer, record producer and businessman - Zakes Bantwini - bagged his first nomination in 2022.  The 'Osama' hitmaker is nominated for the 2023 Grammys in the 'Best Global Music Performance' category alongside Nomcebo Zikode and Wouter Kellerman. 

Zakes, whose real name is Zakhele Madida, described the nomination as the"greatest highlight" of his career. He also performed at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in December. He made an appearance at the Qatar Fashion United event, which showcased designs from 50 countries. 

Several artists from around the world, including  Post Malone, performed at the event. 

ALSO READ: Zakes Bantwini talks Grammy nomination, homecoming performance in Ballito

Main image credit: Instagram/@thuso.mbedu, @trevornoah, @kimengelbrecht