Interview With Mohau Mokoatle Cele
She is known to many of her fans in Nigeria as Bongi, the teenage singer-songwriter in the MTV Base series, SHUGA. In this interview with Urban Woman Magazine, South African actress, Mohau Mokoatle-cele would be sharing her experiences not just as an actor, but also, with being on set, in Nigeria.
UW: How did you begin your journey into acting?
MMC: I can say it's the cliche story; I've always loved performing as a child. My family saw the talent too I guess. they also made sure that I performed a poem or a song at every funeral or wedding. I knew each time I was on those stage performing, that this was what I wanted to see myself doing when I grew up. I just wanted to be on stage!
UW: You studied dramatic arts, when did you decide that you wanted to be on TV?
MMC: The funny part is that I never thought I would be on TV, I always preferred the theatre and thought I'd be doing theatre forever. I still don't think I have that typical TV look that everyone seems to be going for and I only happen to find myself on TV because my agent sends me to TV auditions more than theatre.
UW: What was it like the first time you were on set?
MMC: Well I was in Nigeria at that time. It was my very first professional set where I was actually in front of the camera and not behind. I was nervous and very I insecure. I feel like I put unnecessary pressure on myself as I thought to myself, if i make one silly mistake everyone is going to think these South African “wanna be” actors are just wasting their time. I was also nervous because obviously I'm from a theatre background and what if everyone feels like I'm too theatrical. (laughs). So, it was a double portion of nerves heightened by the fact that I was acting for the first time and in another country!
UW: Describe the experience of being part of the MTV Shuga cast, especially being on set with people from different parts of Africa?
MMC: I think at first I found it really frustrating to be put on a 'spot'; I felt like I have never even worked with locals and I am being put on the spot light and forced to adapt to different cultures and ways of doing things. However, when we filmed “Shuga- Down South” I actually appreciated the fact that we are all coming from different parts of Africa and we are one as Africa, we have the same stories, same challenges just different accents and food preferences. (Laughs). I even then started thinking to myself, “why do we even have borders?” because hey we are one!
UW: How would you say being married has affected your career?
MMC: This question. (Laughs) Well, I can't imagine my life outside my marriage, I don't even know if I'd be acting if I wasn't married because my husband constantly pushes me and encourages me to audition. I hear him mention my career in prayer almost every day and he prays I get the breakthroughs I ought to get and those that the Lord has ordained specifically for me.
I'm still thinking of how to answer this question. Almost all my friends in this industry are unmarried and you are sometimes unconsciously expected by the industry and your peers and just the pressure of the industry and the way things are structured to behave unmarried. The roles that are being offered especially for young people 'never' accommodate the married ones. Yes you are married but you are still very much expected to kiss another man on screen as if unmarried. I guess it's that thing of when in Rome, and the Romans expecting you to do as they do even if it's not your intention or desire.
UW: You have had the chance to experience life in Nigeria, how different would you say it is from South Africa?
MMC: Well the country is very "God" conscious; the food is very "peppery", the Nigerian streets feel safer than those of South Africa, but other than that like I said earlier we are all the same. Our interests, music, when I was in Nigeria, there was never a time I felt like can I go. home because they don't have this or that here or they don't do this or that
UW: What are your dreams in the acting industry?
MMC: To keep being focused. I know you were expecting me to say “winning an Oscar”. That will happen when and if it ought to happen but my dream is to continue working on my skill, to take on each character and be different and better every time. The Bible says your gift will make room for you. My responsibility is to just make sure I use my gift, as to which king it puts me in front of, is God's responsibility. My dream in acting is to be the best I can be, it is to be better than my last performance.
UW: Who is your Favourite actor in Africa and abroad?
MMC: Abroad: Meryl Streep and Africa: V a t i s w a Ndara
UW: Where do you see yourself in five years?
MMC: I see myself eating anything I want anytime I want it. (Laughs) I see myself Monied!!! May that be my portion in Jesus name. (Laughs) But yes, I want to run my own production company one day. Tell my one stories and actually cast myself without the stress of being rejected at auditions.