Kenneth Nkosi is a 50 year-old veteran actor, producer, and comedian who is well known for his roles as Aap in Tsotsi and Elvis in White Wedding.
Born on May 10th, 1973, Kenny Nkosi started his career in theatre and then moved on to make a name for himself as a TV and film actor. He has more than 25 acting credits in his rich portfolio, which also consists of his numerous production and TV hosting works. Having been active in the film industry for more than twenty-five years, Nkosi is a recipient of some awards, including the South African Film and Television Award for Best Actor in a Feature Film.
Kenneth Nkosi’s Biography Summary
- Full name: Kenneth Mncedisi Nkosi
- Nickname: Kenny Makenzo
- Gender: Male
- Date of birth: May 10th, 1973
- Kenneth Nkosi’s Age: 50 years old
- Ethnicity: Black
- Nationality: South African
- Zodiac Sign:Â Taurus
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christian
- Marital Status: Divorced
- Kenneth Nkosi’s Ex-wife: Nonbuntu Major
- Kenneth Nkosi’s Children: Three daughters
- Kenneth Nkosi’s Net worth: $200,000
- Famous for: Playing the role of Aap in Tsotsi and creator of the SABC1 comedy series, Kenny Makenzo
- Kenneth Nkosi’s Instagram: @kennethnkosi
- Twitter: @KennyNkosi
- Facebook: @KennyNkosi
How Old is Kenneth Nkosi?
Kenneth Nkosi is 50 years old. He was born in South Africa on May 10th, 1973. And his zodiac sign is Taurus. The talented actor enrolled for formal training in acting at the age of 20, and after over two decades and a half, his acting career has been decorated with a handful of accolades.
Career Beginning in Community Theatre
With the desire to begin his career as a stage actor, Kenneth Nkosi enrolled at the Market Theatre Laboratory in Johannesburg in 1993. There, he whetted his acting skills for a while before making his debut two years later in the comedy play, Afrodizzia, held at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre.
He moved on to feature in several theatrical productions held at both The Civic and The Market Theatres. He was also a field worker for the Market Theatre Laboratory.
Kenny Made His TV Debut in 1999
Kenneth Nkosi debuted on TV with Saints, Sinners, and Settlers in the year 1999. Then between 2000 and 2011, he carved a niche for himself as a comedic actor, starring in numerous films and TV series. They include Max and Mona, Totsi, Gaz’lam, Gangster’s Paradise: Jerusalema, The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, White Wedding, District 9, and Otelo Burning.
In the last few years, the 50-year-old actor has further made his presence felt in the industry with his roles as Bongani in Five Fingers for Marseilles (2017), Jacob Zulu in Blessers (2019), Franco in Kedibone (2020), and Mandla in Piet’s Sake (2021). Amazingly, Nkosi has not only shown off his comic side with his acting roles but also with his comedy series titled Kenny Makenzo, which he created and was broadcast on SABC1.
What Movie Is Kenneth Nkosi Most Famous for?
After landing his first acting role in 1995, Kenny Nkosi gained immense recognition for his uncanny acting skills in the crime drama film Tsotsi in 2005. He had a supporting role in the movie alongside Jerry Mofokeng and Rapulana Seiphemo. The movie was a box office success and also won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Tsotsi became the first South African movie to win an Oscar, and it also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Besides Tsotsi, Kenneth Nkosi is famous in Mzansi for his movie roles as Thomas in District 9 (2009), Elvis in White Wedding (2010), and Zama Buthelezi in Ayanda (2015).
Kenny won a SAFTA Golden Horn Award for Best Actor in a Feature Film for his performance in White Wedding. Also, his role in Ayanda gained him a SAFTA Award nomination, as well as an African Movie Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Kenneth Nkosi’s Production Credits
In 2005, Nkosi put his production career to a start by working as the associate producer of the TV series, Mzansi. He moved on to produce White Wedding in 2009 and Paradise Stop two years later. In the same 2011, he was the creative producer of Laugh Out Loud. And in 2014, he produced Perfect Sishebo and Task Force.
Additionally, the South African actor had the role of a standby prop in the 2014 movie, Hard to Get and in Hatchet Hour (2016). He was the art department key assistant in the movie, Sink in 2015.
TV Shows Hosted By Kenneth Nkosi
A man with many hats, Kenneth Nkosi has hosted several TV shows throughout his decades-long career in entertainment. He served as the host of the SABC2 World Cup show, Siyaya, in the year 2010. From 2010 to 2011, he hosted Class Act, a reality competition TV series aired on SABC1.
Following his appearance in The Close Up as one of the featured celebrities interviewed by Nicky Greenwall in 2011, the comedic actor worked as the host of the game show, Wang Verstana, aired on Mzansi Wethu and Mzansi Magic in 2013. The next year, he began hosting the e.tv reality cooking competition series, SA’s Kitchen Queens.
Give Me That Bill Mzansi, Laugh Out Loud, Total Soccer, and Vodacom TV competition, and Dr Yebo are other TV shows hosted by Nkosi.
Kenneth Nkosi’s Movies and TV Shows
TV Series
- Saints, Sinners, and Settlers as Xaba (1999)
- Max and Mona as Priest 3 (2004)
- Gaz’lam as Pastor (2005)
- Society as Paris (2007)
- Mafrika as Detective (2008)
- The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency as Two Shots Pulani (2009)
- Rockville as Minister Masondo
- Measure of A Woman as Mr. Molefe (2018)
- Nikiwe as Uncle Skeitla
- Reyka as Msomi (2021)
- The Queen as Jaros
Films
- Tsotsi as Aap (2005)
- Gangster’s Paradise: Jerusalema as Lucas Sithole (2008)
- White Wedding as Elvis (2009)
- District 9 as Thomas (2009)
- Paradise Stop as Ben Khumalo (2011)
- Otelo Burning as Oscar Buthelezi (2011)
- Skeem as Lucas (2011)
- Mad Buddies as Beast Buthelezi (2012)
- Nothing for Mahala as Godfrey Molefe (2013)
- Ayanda as Zama Buthelezi (2015)
- Hatchet Hour as Roadblock Cop (2016)
- Five Fingers for Marseillers as Bongani (2017)
- Freedom as Zachariah (2018)
- Frank & Fearless as Dolf (2018)
- Blessers as Jacob Zulu (2019)
- Kedibone as Franco (2020)
- Piet’s Sake as Mandla (2021)
Is Kenneth Nkosi Married?
Kenneth Nkosi was previously married to Nobuntu Major. The two were married for some years before separating based on the allegation of physical assault on the part of the actor. Major was allegedly assaulted for seven years by her husband before she fled her marital home in Lyndhurst, Johannesburg, to Cape Town on March 25th, 2007.
The former couple share three daughters. Their first child, Ntando Nobuntu Nkosi (21), was born on June 24th, 2002, and their second daughter, Lungile Khanyisile Nkosi (20), arrived on April 4th, 2004. Then the birthdate of their third daughter, Wandile Lesedi Nkosi, is April 11th, 2011, and she is 13 years old.
In June 2007, Kenneth Nkosi’s ex-wife reportedly filed a lawsuit against him for refusing to pay the maintenance fee for his children. Nevertheless, both seemed to have settled their differences and are co-parenting quite well.
Kenneth Nkosi’s Assault Case
Having moved on from his failed marriage, Kenneth Nkosi was reported to have assaulted his girlfriend, Mosidi Motsau, at the BlackAnt Lounge in Newtown, Johannesburg. The alleged victim opened a case of common assault under domestic violence against the White Wedding star at the Johannesburg Central police station.
Her friend, Puly, shared a picture that showed the injuries sustained by Nkosi’s alleged girlfriend on Twitter. She was also said to share a video where the actor appeared drunk and took the victim’s phone, refusing to give it back. However, the assault charges against Kenneth Nkosi were dropped by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in June 2019.
It happened that Nkosi handed himself over to the police, and after two days, he became a free man as NPA’s Phindi Mjonondwane said that the facts seen from the video, which was supposed to prove the 50-year-old producer guilty, weren’t enough to take the case to court. Consequently, the charges were withdrawn.
