Actor Dr Leleti Khumalo DOESN’T even know how to describe the feeling he has after Rhodes University honored him with a doctorate yesterday.
Leleti said that she could not see anything more than becoming an actress and using her voice to fight against the evils that attack the country, including HIV/AIDS. She said that when she was growing up in KwaMashu, she was a girl who did not know that one day she would be honored by a big institution like this one.
With these titles, he said he is grateful to the teachers, the founders of the games he has been a part of.
“These titles belong to every person in this country, I used something that really happened to me in my life, I acted it out. I am a little girl in the gameSarafina, I didn’t understand what we were really doing but the love I had for acting and singing, you couldn’t touch me. Being in that game gave us voices to speak for people who were silenced so we were happy doing it, this game showed what we black people wanted in this country,” said Leleti.
He said that the games they do are not only for the audience to be happy but also for learning, revealing what is hidden in society and much more.
“Because in the games, I learned that patience is part of being an artist. I always get here and work with determination and dedication because I see how important it is to be given an opportunity that is open to you at that time. Dreams really do come true and there is no dream that can fade when it comes. So to everyone who struggles, I say that what you dream of will happen one day and one day your name will be known,” he said.
He urged the Rhodes Center to continue to promote art in every way.
She thanked her husband, her mother and her children for supporting her in this field which she said was troubling but they were patient with her. He revealed that living with a skin-changing disease was something that came to him unexpectedly. It’s hard to hide but he managed to live with it. By receiving this degree, he said it is not the end, he will continue to preach the gospel and open doors to encourage growth in the acting industry.
“With these degrees, I respect all my colleagues in this role, we all worked, we worked hard, so I say that I am with you in this happiness that I have today,” he said.