Fulu’s ‘African Oscar’
AWARD ‘FOR ALL OF AFRICA’
FULU Mugovhani has zoomed up the acting chain in a matter of months.
In March she picked up the SA Film and Television Awards (Safta) best actress in film. Just last weekend she brought home the Africa Movie Academy Awards (Amaa) trophy for best lead actress.
Television fans knew her for her role in e.tv soapie Scandal!, but they were not ready for her tour de force performance as Ayanda in the Sara Blecher film of the same name. It was produced by Hollywood star Terry Pheto.
I spoke to Mugovhani while she was still catching her breath after her famous win.
“It’s for the whole of Africa … I only realised the depth of the award when I accepted it. The level of respect I enjoyed after that was amazing.”
Mugovhani has every right to gloat. She faced fierce competition from the continent’s brightest stars.
In her category she beat compatriot Nomzamo Mbatha for Tell Me
Sweet Something; Moroccan screen siren Zineb Obeid for Behind
Closed Doors; Nigerian Adesua Etomi for
Falling; Senegalese Maimouna N’Daiye for Eye of the
Storm; and a quartet of Nollywood stars Iretiola Doyle, Dakore Egbuson, Nse Ikpe Etim, Omoni Oboli for Fifty. Mugovhani says when clips of the nominees’ works were played before the winner was announced, she still believed that she stood no chance.
“These were actresses who had been at it for a while,” she says.
“It’s God’s way of saying ‘thank you for honouring the gift I gave you’. It means that the role was bigger than me or Sara or Terry. I wouldn’t have done it if Sara didn’t push me.
“We spent weeks rehearsing. She always said to me ‘remember the story’. These awards mean the story that reached Cannes, LA and the whole of Africa was real and honest. “I’m not bozza [a boss], but I’ve set the bar for myself. I only have to go up. I’m in competition with myself. These awards mean everything to me and I want to use the momentum and encouragement to go further.”
Mugovhani says her silverware has pride of place in her lounge, reminding her to keep producing award-winning work. Her first gong was from Africa International Film Festival for best female performance.
“I look at them and say, ‘you better go and do award-winning work’.”
Mugovhani says despite the accolades she will not rest and wait for calls. She is on the audition circuit because she believes that auditions present a platform for one to shine.
“I do enjoy auditions because that’s where directors and producers fall in love with you. It’s a platform to show off. I love acting,” she adds. She says 2016 has been a year of validation.
“These awards came at the right time; they have a purpose. I can never doubt myself. I know that I’m young, talented and beautiful,” she says. Mugovhani says she will still feature in Scandal! but will invest more time in dramas and film. Her next work is a film will star Oros Mampofu and Steve Mabuya to be released next year.
On Wednesday night she was treated to a congratulatory dinner by Deputy Minister in the Presidency Buti Manamela.
Other South Africans who won at Amaa are Thishiwe Ziqubu for best actress in a supporting role for Tell
Me Sweet Something. The film also won for achievement in screenplay; while Hear Me Move was awarded for achievement in editing.