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The passing of legendary actress Mam’ Mary Twala on July 4 2020 came as a shock to the country. Upon the discovery of the news, many fans and industry peers shared their condolences and the countless memories they shared with the formidable performer.
READ: The story of our brutal past and inequality is told in Isidlamlilo at The Market Theatre
The news was first shared by her son Somizi Mhlongo, who has quite a career in the industry himself, in an emotional Instagram post.
At the time, he wrote:
Lady Zamar also gave Mam’Twala a heartfelt message on her Twitter account, writing:
“A giant has fallen today. Mama Mary Twala was funny and cool, kasi and chic... her acting career is one to boast about and it’s terrible that she passed just like that. As beautiful of a person as she was, death didn’t care, but life did. So live life fully the way she did.”
Twala's long-time best friend and fellow actress Lilian Dube shared she was devastated by the news, saying:
In the three years since her passing, the void she left can still be felt in the industry. From her mind-blowing performances in productions such as Sarafina and Sikalo to her gender-bending outfits, and the way she loved her son so loudly, there aren’t any bad words that can be said about Mam’ Twala.
Twala was 80 years old when she passed.
On this day, as we celebrate her life, we caught up with Mhlongo to find out what it was like being raised by someone as kind, vibrant and compassionate as Twala.
“Growing up with uMama [Mary Twala] was so fun,” he told City Press as he laughed.
“I got to travel with her for months at a time I was always seeing different hotels and stages. She was such a fun woman that for a long time, it didn’t even feel like work. It felt like I was just spending all this special time with someone who was so fun,” Mhlongo added.
Twala’s career was a personification of her free spirit, the characters she played, and her deep and strong sense of self were always at the forefront of her riveting and sometimes comical performances.
Mhlongo recalled a home unlike many others, as his mother always made room for who he was. He realised he wanted to walk in the footsteps of his mother when he was just six years old and was guided by her, while she encouraged his destiny with absolute conviction. His first role was in Circumstances when he was six years old, alongside his mother and father Ndaba Mhlongo.
“I don’t think I grew up like many other children I was around. My mother was so carefree. I’ve been asked by so many people when I came out, and I always respond and say:
Mhlongo recalled some of his fondest memories of his mother and watching her work. He noted that he was always impressed with the way she spent money. He looked back on moments with her when she would get paid and spend all her money on the people she loved on the same day without worrying where it would come from again.
After a lifetime spent building community and giving back to the people she loved, in 2019, the veteran actress received a National Order from President Cyril Ramaphosa. The order is often awarded to South Africans who are distinguished in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.
Mam’ Twala was graciously awarded for her contributions to the performing arts over the six decades she was in the industry and her efforts in raising awareness of women’s health issues through her storytelling.
Mhlongo lamented on his favourite creative offering by his mother, saying:
“I loved watching my mother all the time, but I really loved her character on Ubizo [The Calling]. Watching her at that age, I was intrigued by the way she was able to capture that role. I also loved watching my mother in Beyoncé’s Black is King in 2020. It was her final on-screen performance.
Twala was a dedicated actress, who never fed into the hype of the industry like most creatives do. Her time in the industry was spent rehearsing, creating and executing, which left little time for things like drugs and alcohol. For Mhlongo, this meant he was continuously being taught discipline and was even able to teach those around him.
“My mother was a simple person. She cared about the things that gave her absolute joy and spent all her time perfecting and building on those things. They [Twala and her friends] were never into drugs. She didn’t even want to be recognised as a celebrity, she wanted to just be Mary Twala the performer, acclaimed for her craft. I think because of that, she knew that I would never be affected by those things, I was always a good child,” Mhlongo added.
Twala knew what it took to stay in the game, always teaching those around her to stay in their power and to never retire from who they are.
Mhlongo hopes that we can continue to remember the late, great Mam’Twala as a force, and a person whose dedication to the craft was unapologetic and evident. Through the teachings of his mother, Mhlongo knows he can do even better than her, to elevate and maintain his mother’s legacy.
READ: Watch | The many faces of Mary Twala
He closed off by saying:
“Sometimes, people are given flowers when they die, but one thing I will always love and appreciate about South Africa is that they unashamedly gave my mother her flowers while she was still alive. I will always be grateful for that.”
