2013 should see a good number of African actors achieve global dominance. With an impressive outing last year, it is expected that the continent’s leading male screen names, will become better over the next twelve months.
In no particular order, Obed Boafo takes a look at five African actors to watch out for in 2013.
Joseph Benjamin – Nigeria
A leading name in the Nigerian film industry, Joseph Benjamin is just one of the growing number of West African screen professionals excelling in the field.
His boy-next-door looks have made him an on-screen favourite of directors, actors and movie lovers alike.
A multi talented young man, Benjamin won the African Actor of the Year award last year, at the 17th edition of the African Film Awards, also known as Afro-Hollywood.
He got his big break when he landed the job of co-host of Project Fame, a music reality show in Nigeria.
With a solid West African viewership base, Project Fame brought Benjamin a good deal of cross border appeal, becoming a name most people started to look out for.
In addition to acting, he is a model, and musician.
Some of his well known movies include: Dark Side, Mr. & Mrs., Tango with Me, Jungle Ride, Contract, and the yet-to-be-released Lotanna.
Sarah Hassan – Kenya
One-time host of popular Kenyan dance show Sakata, Hassan is the current co-anchor for the Mnet-produced entertainment programme Mashariki Mix.
She is famed locally for her roles in the drama series Changes, I am Slave, Saints, and Tahidi High, in which she played the role of Tanya.
After abandoning her childhood dream of becoming a neurosurgeon, Hassan, 24, has gone on to become one of Kenya’s most respected actresses.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science from the Jomo Kenyatta University, Kenya.
Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine – Uganda
The playwright, photographer and documentarian made his film debut in the award-winning Blood Diamond, which also starred the likes of Djimon Hounsou and Leonardo DiCaprio.
He holds a Masters Degree of Fine Arts in Acting from the New York University, as well as studied at The Moscow Arts Theatre in Russia, The Royal National Theatre in London and The University of Virginia.
Mwine, who turns 46 this year, has had roles in Treme, Heroes,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Riches andNew York Undercover.
Lydia Forson – Ghana
Miss Forson is one of few Ghanaian actresses, with a huge popularity base that goes just beyond the number of titles she’s acted in.
The exceptionally beautiful actress continues to attract interest from some of the leading production houses across Africa, making her a hot commodity.
Forson has had a successful career thus far and big things are expected of her in future.
This year, she stars in a new West African-produced movie Kamara’s Tree, produced by US-based Sierra Leonean actor/director Moris K. Sesay, and which also features Nigeria’s Desmond Elliot.
Hlomla Dandala – South Africa
A successful local series actor before joining mainstream film acting, Dandala is an African household movie giant.
Dandala, 48, is famed for his 1998 to 2001 role as Derek Nyathi in Isidingo, and also as Jacob Makhubu in the series Jacob’s Cross, which has been running since 2007.
He’s also acted in Land of Thirst, a SABC2 funded mini-series, and Jozi-H, a South African-Canadian medical drama series, among a host of other productions.
A television presenter and director, Dandala has a rich collection of titles (either as director or actor) to his credit, including Backstage, Gaz’lam, Generations, Scout’s Safari, Hard Copy, Lord of War, Interrogation Room, Tsha Tsha, Coup, Sniper Reloaded, Red Dust, and the recently-released Ghanaian romantic comedy Contract, among others.
Terry Pheto – South Africa
The Bold and Beautiful star is one to watch in 2013. Pheto walks into a year that will see her global appeal rise to encouraging numbers, given the mileage and reach the series offers.
A successful actress, who continues to be one of Africa’s most treasured film sweethearts; Pheto is definitely positioned for greater exploits.
Seven years ago, when she starred as Miriam in the Oscar-winning feature film Tsotsi, it was to mark the beginning of a career that would go on to become a story in itself.
To say that Pheto is your average definition of an actress who simply can’t go wrong, will be stating the obvious. She does it so well!
2013 is expected to open up more windows of opportunity for her.
Majid Michel – Ghana
Winner of Best Actor in a Leading Role at last year’s African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), Majid Michel is a popular name across the continent.
The 33-year-old is a former local drama series actor, earnedhis stripes on television before moving on to the bigger screen.
He announced his presence in 2008, when he starred in the movie Agony of Christ. The movie earned an impressive seven nominations at the 2009 AMAAs.
Damilola Adegbite – Nigeria
The 27 year-old gorgeous Nigerian is a screen goddess in the making. After a successful local stage theatre/drama career, Adegbite took to the screens in 2010, acting in the Ghanaian-produced movie Six Hours to Christmas.
Her exceptional performance in the movie brought her string of screen appearances, acting in some of the most well-produced movies of the last two years, as well as some yet-to-be-released titles.
The Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration graduate who quit the highly-rated West African seriesTinsel to concentrate on her screen career, is one of Africa’s most adored female stars of today.
Adegbite is starring in an upcoming romantic comedy Flower Girl.
Morris Sesay – Sierra Leone
The US-based actor/director is set to release his latest production Kamara’s Tree. The movie stars some of Africa’s leading screen names including Lydia Forson, Desmond Elliot and Joseph Benjamin.
Kamara’s Tree is expected to shoot up his ratings this year. Sesay struggled to gain mainstream appreciation in the past, but it looks like 2013 might just turn out to be a good year for him.
Sesay has been involved in a good number of productions over the past few years, making an impression on industry professionals in the sub-region.
Danai Gurira – Zimbabwe/US
The actress/playwright, born to Zimbabwean parents in the US, is one of the continent’s brightest stars abroad.
She stars in the hugely popular series TheWalking Dead. A recognised name in Hollywood, Gurira continues to raise the flag of Africa high in the West, becoming one of the most successful women in the industry.
She is a graduate of the Macalester College and has a MFA from the New York University.
Gurira is winner of a Whiting Writers’ award as well as the Obie and Outer Critics Circle awards for writing. She’s also a proud recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for Best Lead Actress in the play In the Continuum.
She’s starred in movies such as The Visitor, which won her a Best Supporting Actress award at the Method Fest Film Festival; as well as Come and Gone, My Soul to Take, Treme, Restless City, Life on Mars, Ghost Town 3, andMa’ George among others.