Zazi Kunene Opens Up About Life Without Her Father Vusi Kunene
Johannesburg, South Africa (Al Jazeera) — Zazi Kunene, the 26-year-old actress lighting up South African screens in Smoke and Mirrors and Generations: The Legacy, has bared her soul in a moving interview that’s gripping Mzansi. Speaking to Drum magazine, she shared the pain of growing up without her father, veteran actor Vusi Kunene, who left when she was just five.
The revelation, paired with her soaring career, has sparked a wave of empathy online—but it’s the clarification of their relationship that’s turning heads. Who is the real Zazi, and how did her past shape her into a star?
Born on May 17, 1999, in Pietermaritzburg, Zazi’s early years were marked by struggle. Her father’s departure left her and her mother to navigate life alone in a township where bullying over Zazi’s childhood stutter was relentless. “My mom was my rock,” she told Drum, her voice steady with gratitude. It was her mother who spotted her flair for performance, enrolling her at the Helen O’Grady Drama Academy at age seven.
There, Zazi found refuge in acting, turning taunts into fuel for her craft. “I learned to speak through characters when my own voice faltered,” she said, a sentiment that resonates in her raw portrayal of Sindi, the conflicted sister in e.tv’s Smoke and Mirrors.
Zazi’s rise has been meteoric. Since her 2021 debut as Zama in Netflix’s Jiva!, she’s tackled roles that showcase her range, from the fiery Nomcoba in Mzansi Magic’s Shaka Ilembe to a stint in Generations: The Legacy. Her work alongside Vusi Kunene, a titan known for Yizo Yizo and The Queen, fueled rumors that he was her biological father.
Fans pointed to their shared surname and on-screen chemistry, especially in Shaka Ilembe, where Zazi’s Nomcoba faces off against Vusi’s Tsonga king. But Zazi set the record straight in SMag: “Vusi is an industry dad, not my biological father. Our bond is professional, built on respect.” She described their collaboration as a masterclass, not a family reunion, dispelling years of speculation.
The absence of her real father, who left when Zazi was five, cut deep. “I don’t have many memories of him,” she admitted. “It was just me and my mom after that.” The void shaped her, feeding the emotional depth she brings to roles like Sindi, whose family drama mirrors Zazi’s own sense of loss. “Acting lets me process what I couldn’t say as a kid,” she shared.
Her vulnerability has struck a chord online, with X users rallying behind her. “Zazi’s strength is inspiring. Growing up without a dad isn’t easy, but she’s shining,” posted @MzansiVibes, garnering thousands of likes. Another user, @SindiFan4Life, wrote: “Her pain makes her performances so real. We see you, Zazi.”
Despite the challenges, Zazi’s career is on fire. A 2021 drama graduate from the University of Cape Town, she’s not just acting—she’s stepping into music with her upcoming single Ungowami, set for release later this month.
Her return to Shaka Ilembe for its second season, filming now in Johannesburg, promises more of Nomcoba’s fierce spirit. Off-screen, she’s a vocal advocate for mental health, inspired by her own journey overcoming bullying and self-doubt. “I want kids to know they’re enough,” she told Drum, echoing her mother’s lessons of resilience.
The rumor mill around Vusi Kunene, 58, added intrigue. Known for playing patriarchs and villains with equal gravitas, he’s mentored Zazi on set, offering tips on navigating the industry’s pressures. “He’s like a father figure in the work sense,” she clarified, laughing off the gossip. Their shared scenes in Shaka Ilembe—tense, regal exchanges—showcase a professional synergy, not a personal tie. Vusi, a private figure himself, has not commented, letting Zazi’s words stand.
Social media buzzes with support, but some fans speculate. “She’s using her story to connect with us, and it works,” posted @JoziLights. Others wonder if the timing—amid her music debut and Shaka Ilembe hype—is strategic. Yet, Zazi’s openness feels raw, not rehearsed. Her childhood, marked by a 2004 speech therapy breakthrough and her mother’s sacrifices, grounds her narrative. “I stuttered, I was mocked, but I found my voice,” she said, a line that doubles as her life’s anthem.
As Zazi prepares for her next chapter, her story resonates beyond the screen. In a country where single-parent households make up 40% of families, per Stats SA, her tale of triumph over abandonment hits home. With Ungowami poised to climb charts and Shaka Ilembe set to dominate 2026, Zazi Kunene isn’t just a star—she’s a symbol of turning pain into power. The question now: How much higher can this Mzansi gem soar?
