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| Presley Chweneyagae: South Africans remember acting 'icon' who died age 40 | Presley Chweneyagae: South Africans remember acting 'icon' who died age 40 |
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| Presley Chweneyagae rose to international prominence after starring in hit 2005 film Tsotsi | Presley Chweneyagae rose to international prominence after starring in hit 2005 film Tsotsi |
| South Africans are paying tribute to actor Presley Chweneyagae, who has died at the age of 40. | South Africans are paying tribute to actor Presley Chweneyagae, who has died at the age of 40. |
| His family said he had died from natural causes after experiencing breathing problems. | His family said he had died from natural causes after experiencing breathing problems. |
| Family spokesperson Mzwakhe Sigudla said that paramedics had attended to him, but he "couldn't make it". | Family spokesperson Mzwakhe Sigudla said that paramedics had attended to him, but he "couldn't make it". |
| Chweneyagae, who was born in 1984 in South Africa's North-West Province, got his big international break after starring in the 2005 film Tsotsi, which earned the country its first Oscar for best foreign language film. | Chweneyagae, who was born in 1984 in South Africa's North-West Province, got his big international break after starring in the 2005 film Tsotsi, which earned the country its first Oscar for best foreign language film. |
| Tsotsi, a powerful crime film in which Chweneyagae plays the lead role, explores gang life in a South Africa. | Tsotsi, a powerful crime film in which Chweneyagae plays the lead role, explores gang life in a South Africa. |
| The film is in a mix of different South African languages including Tsotsitaal, which is primarily spoken in townships. | |
| Speaking to the BBC, South African film critic Stephen Aspeling said Tsotsi was a "landmark film" which came at a "critical juncture for South Africa's film industry but also for South Africa on the international platform". | Speaking to the BBC, South African film critic Stephen Aspeling said Tsotsi was a "landmark film" which came at a "critical juncture for South Africa's film industry but also for South Africa on the international platform". |
| "It's taking a look at post-apartheid South Africa, the social inequalities, conveying poverty [and] crime in townships," Mr Aspeling said, outlining that before Tsotsi, South Africa hadn't featured much at the Oscars. | "It's taking a look at post-apartheid South Africa, the social inequalities, conveying poverty [and] crime in townships," Mr Aspeling said, outlining that before Tsotsi, South Africa hadn't featured much at the Oscars. |
| The year after the film's release, its director, Gavin Hood, told an American student newspaper that Chweneyagae had "never done a film", before he scouted him for the movie, highlighting that Chweneyagae himself came from a "tough neighborhood". | The year after the film's release, its director, Gavin Hood, told an American student newspaper that Chweneyagae had "never done a film", before he scouted him for the movie, highlighting that Chweneyagae himself came from a "tough neighborhood". |
| Chweneyagae spoke about his acting technique in an interview on a South African podcast, where he said he liked to draw on his own experiences. | Chweneyagae spoke about his acting technique in an interview on a South African podcast, where he said he liked to draw on his own experiences. |
| "You need to draw from your own emotional memory to make the scene more believable." | "You need to draw from your own emotional memory to make the scene more believable." |
| He added that acting is all he had ever done work-wise, starting off with his first professional play in 1998. | He added that acting is all he had ever done work-wise, starting off with his first professional play in 1998. |
| Mr Aspeling also highlighted Chweneyagae's role in iNumber Number, a film where he played a police officer, demonstrating his "versatility". | Mr Aspeling also highlighted Chweneyagae's role in iNumber Number, a film where he played a police officer, demonstrating his "versatility". |
| In a statement announcing his death, his agency described him as a "South African icon" and one of the country's "most gifted and beloved actors". | In a statement announcing his death, his agency described him as a "South African icon" and one of the country's "most gifted and beloved actors". |
| The South African government published a post on X describing him as "a gifted storyteller whose talent lit up our screens and hearts". | The South African government published a post on X describing him as "a gifted storyteller whose talent lit up our screens and hearts". |
| Chweneyagae also starred in the Nelson Mandela biopic Long Walk to Freedom in 2013, as well as acting in various theatre productions. | Chweneyagae also starred in the Nelson Mandela biopic Long Walk to Freedom in 2013, as well as acting in various theatre productions. |
| The South African Film and Television Awards described him as a "true legend of South African cinema" and a "powerhouse performer". | The South African Film and Television Awards described him as a "true legend of South African cinema" and a "powerhouse performer". |
| The Ministry of Sports, Art and Culture released a statement highlighting his role in the popular South African series River and Cobrizzi. | The Ministry of Sports, Art and Culture released a statement highlighting his role in the popular South African series River and Cobrizzi. |
| "The Department of Sports, Art and Culture, mourns the loss of a true trailblazer - a storyteller who held the soul of a nation in his craft," Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie said in the statement. | "The Department of Sports, Art and Culture, mourns the loss of a true trailblazer - a storyteller who held the soul of a nation in his craft," Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie said in the statement. |
| Speaking on the MacG podcast in 2020, Chweneyagae outlined what he hoped his legacy would be. | |
| "I just want to be remembered as an actor who loved his work, and who had great respect for others. I think that's about it." | |
| More about African film from the BBC: | More about African film from the BBC: |
| Trailblazing African film-maker and Cannes winner dies | Trailblazing African film-maker and Cannes winner dies |
| Idris Elba: Why I'm planning a move to Africa | Idris Elba: Why I'm planning a move to Africa |
| Teenage actress takes on child marriage in role mirroring real life | Teenage actress takes on child marriage in role mirroring real life |
| Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
| Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |