Fumani Shilubana
Fumani N Shilubana (born 22 March 1980), is a South African actor, director and producer. He is best known for his roles in the popular films " Zama Zama", "My Father's War" and "Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu". His the founder of FatherFigureZA, a Foundation that seeks to integrate man back into the family unit and Chairman of Midrand Heat Basketball Club. Early life. He was born on 22 March 1980 in small village Shiluvana, Tzaneen, Limpopo, South Africa. His father Clifford Shilubana was a school head master at Mlungisi Primary School and mother Nsatimuni Mundhlovu who  is a Mozambican/South African was a nurse at Shiluvana Hospital. He has two younger sisters: Labani Mgimeti and Kumani Shilubana and an older brother Tebogo Maake. Personal life. On the 31 October 2016 at Joppie Village he paid lovola to his now wife and in 2017 December 22 he and Nomathemba Olivia Ngobeni had a private ceremony at African Pride Mount Grace in Magaliesburg. He is a father of one son, Vulani and one daughter Nganakati-Nsuku. Shilubana matriculated in 1998 at Mathews Phosa College in Mpumalanga, he enrolled at the University of Venda in 1999 to study Bachelor  of Science (BSc) in Agriculture which he didn't complete and in 2000 he enrolled for Industrial Engineering at Tshwane University of Technology which he also dropped out when he wanted to pursue modelling in Italy, he also didn't go after enrolling for Speech and Drama Program at the South African State Theatre under the mentorship of the Play writer and Director Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom. He started playing Basketball at age 15, he learnt about the game after his mother bought him a Basketball rule book, at 19 years he attended Basketball Trials at the University of Limpopo and  was selected to represent Limpopo Province for the men senior team for the SASSU games at the annual tournament in Cape Town. Career. He is well-known for his role as the producer and actor in the telenovela "". In the series, he played the role 'Vukosi Moyo'. After the conclusion of the series, he made the appearance in the series "Mafanato" which he Produced and Directed. He has also acted in the popular television series: "Soul City", "Generations" and "Isidingo". He generally speaks in Xitsonga on television, which is his mother tongue. He played the popular role 'Detective Dabula' on  the SABC3 soapie "Isidingo". Shilubana made his directorial debut with Khomelela, a film he created and co-wrote also produced. This project was part of his mission to get Xitsonga films on the main stream. He raised R40 000 for the film and shot 95% of the film at Hlovani River Lodge and the rest at Nkowankowa Township. The film was screened at Nkowankowa Community Hall. Shitshembiso Mabasa, Fumani N. Shilubana, together with Teleti Khosa own Xiculu Multimedia a 100% black owned media company that was established in December 2019. The primary function of Xiculu is the production and distribution  of Xitsonga content and has produced Mafanato series on Showmax, BeingTsongaInSA doccie series podcast about the shared experience of Vatsonga in the Republic of South Africa, Minkoka Mimbirhi series, A day with a Tsonga Legend talk show, Nyambondzwani short film, Sivara series and COVID-19 Xitsonga dashboard in collaboration with Xitsonga.org all in 2020. Awards and nominations. Shilubana was nominated in 2005 for the Naledi Theatre Awards for Best Supporting Role on Relativity "Township Stories". The glittering star-studded ceremony took place at the University of Johannesburg Arts Centre on Sunday 19 February 2006. In 2010 he was honoured with a  Mama Beka Community Award for uplifting his tribe and language Xitsonga on mainstream media. He was nominated for his first screen acting award for Best Actor for Love Specialist at the F.A.M.E Awards 2016.