Connie Chiume

Chiume was born on 5 June 1952 in the mining town of Welkom, South Africa.{{cite web | url=https://www.studentroom.co.za/wiki/connie-chiume/ | title=Connie Chiume career | date=16 August 2020 | publisher=studentroom | access-date=8 November 2020 | archive-date=29 October 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029044316/https://studentroom.co.za/wiki/connie-chiume/ | url-status=live }} Her father Wright Tadeyo Chiume (d. 1983) was from Nkhata Bay, Malawi and her mother MaNdlovu (d. 2020){{cite web| url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/former-rhythm-city-actress-connie-chiume-mourns-her-mother-20200318| title=Former 'Rhythm City' actress Connie Chiume mourns the death of mother| date=18 March 2020| publisher=news24| access-date=8 November 2020| archive-date=7 July 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707144615/https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/former-rhythm-city-actress-connie-chiume-mourns-her-mother-20200318| url-status=live}} hailed from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her cousin, Ephraim Mganda Chiume is a Malawian politician.{{cite web |title=Meet actress Connie Chiume |url=https://mwnation.com/meet-actress-connie-chiume/ |website=mwnation.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427112708/https://mwnation.com/meet-actress-connie-chiume/ |archive-date=27 April 2016 |date=26 April 2016}}

Chiume spent her early childhood in Welkom. She completed her matric in the Eastern Cape and started training to become a nurse. However, she went on to graduate with a degree in teaching in 1976. In 1977, she left South Africa and became part of a touring musical group, visiting Greece and Israel with them.

Chiume began her acting career with roles in productions of Porgy and Bess, Ipi Ntombi, and Little Shop of Horrors. She returned to South Africa as apartheid was ending. She was cast as Thembi in the 1989 series Inkom' Edla Yodwa and then the 1990 film Warriors from Hell. In 2000, she won the award for Best Actress in a Drama Series at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA).

In 2006, she starred in the stage productions of You Strike The Woman and You Strike The Rock. From 2007 to 2015, Chiume gained prominence through her role as Stella Moloi in the SABC1 drama series Zone 14, which earned her another SAFTA. She also received the Award for the Best Supporting Actress in a Drama during the 3rd SAFTA. In 2015, she appeared in the soap opera Rhythm City as Mamokete Khuse.

In 2018, Chiume played Zawavari, the elder of a mining tribe in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Panther.{{cite web| url=https://www.news24.com/channel/movies/news/south-africas-film-industry-needs-to-reach-for-the-stars-20180106| title=South Africa's film industry needs to reach for the stars| publisher=news24| access-date=8 November 2020| archive-date=29 October 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029044252/https://www.news24.com/channel/movies/news/south-africas-film-industry-needs-to-reach-for-the-stars-20180106| url-status=live}}{{cite web| url=https://www.news24.com/channel/movies/news/local-actress-connie-chiume-ready-to-meet-co-stars-at-black-panther-premiere-20180103| title=Local actress Connie Chiume 'ready to meet co-stars' at Black Panther premiere| publisher=news24| access-date=8 November 2020| archive-date=30 September 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930232948/https://www.news24.com/channel/movies/news/local-actress-connie-chiume-ready-to-meet-co-stars-at-black-panther-premiere-20180103| url-status=live}} She starred in this role again in the film's 2022 sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

In 2020, Chiume landed the role of Mam'Sonto Molefe in the drama series Gomora and appeared in Beyoncé's film Black Is King.{{cite web | url=https://www.news24.com/drum/celebs/news/connie-chiume-on-black-is-king-and-her-role-as-a-fussy-mother-in-netflixs-seriously-single-20200807| title=Connie Chiume on Black is King and her role as a fussy mother in Netflix's Seriously Single | publisher=news24 | access-date=8 November 2020}} In October 2020, she received a Feather Award nomination.{{cite web| url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/trending/actress-connie-chiume-honoured-with-first-feather-award-nomination-20201015| title=Actress Connie Chiume honoured with first Feather Award nomination| publisher=news24| access-date=8 November 2020| archive-date=31 October 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031172643/https://www.news24.com/citypress/trending/actress-connie-chiume-honoured-with-first-feather-award-nomination-20201015| url-status=live}} In 2022, she received the lifetime achievement award at the South African Film and Television Awards.{{cite web |title='Black Panther' actress Connie Chiume dies aged 72 |url=https://www.euronews.com/culture/2024/08/07/black-panther-actress-connie-chiume-dies-aged-72 |access-date=8 August 2024 |website=euronews}}

Chiume was married from 1985 to 2004. She was a mother of four, with two sons and two daughters. She was born and raised in Welkom, South Africa.

Chiume died at the Garden City Hospital in Johannesburg on 5 August 2024, at the age of 72.{{Cite news |last=Live |first=Sowetan |date=6 August 2024 |title=Veteran actress Connie Chiume dies |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2024-08-06-veteran-actress-connie-chiume-dies/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1722957340-1 |work=Sowetan Live |access-date=6 August 2024 |archive-date=6 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806153338/https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2024-08-06-veteran-actress-connie-chiume-dies/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1722957340-1 |url-status=live }}

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|2024

|Herself

|Best Actress in a Telenovela

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|{{cite news|title=2024's SAFTA nominations announced: See all the dominators and new categories at this year's event|first=Thinus |last=Ferreira|location=South Africa|language=en-ZA|url-access=subscription|access-date=2024-09-06|date=2024-09-05|publisher=News24|url=https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/tv/2024s-safta-nominations-announced-see-all-the-dominators-and-new-categories-at-this-years-event-20240905}}{{cite news|title=18 SAFTAs full winners list: Shaka iLembe crowned king with 12 wins|first=Thinus |last=Ferreira|location=South Africa|language=en-ZA|url-access=subscription|access-date=2025-04-30|date=2024-10-26|publisher=News24|url=https://www.news24.com/life/arts-and-entertainment/tv/18-saftas-full-winners-list-shaka-ilembe-crowned-king-with-13-wins-20241026}}

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{{reflist}}

• {{IMDb name|nm0158448}}
• [https://times.mw/filmmakers-actors-seek-solutions-to-grow-industry/ Filmmakers, actors seek solutions to grow industry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031115043/https://times.mw/filmmakers-actors-seek-solutions-to-grow-industry/ |date=31 October 2021 }}
• [https://times.mw/ashukile-mwakisulu-engages-connie-chiume-on-film-industry/ Ashukile Mwakisulu engages Connie Chiume on film industry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031232049/https://times.mw/ashukile-mwakisulu-engages-connie-chiume-on-film-industry/ |date=31 October 2021 }}

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Category:1952 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:South African people of Malawian descent

Category:South African film actresses

Category:South African television actresses

Category:People from Welkom