Connie Chiume, a well-known South African actress from the Marvel film Black Panther, has died at 72, her family said.
Chiume, who won several awards, appeared in popular South African TV shows like Rhythm City, Zone 14, and Gomora. She originally trained as a teacher before becoming a famous TV star.
She passed away at a hospital in Johannesburg on Tuesday. Her family released a short statement, saying, “We are sorry to announce the passing of our beloved Connie Chiume.” They have asked for privacy and will share more information later.
Her son, Nongelo Chiume, told Newsroom Afrika that she was admitted for a “medical procedure” before she died.
SABC News remembered her as a “beacon of hope” in South African TV.
Connie Chiume gained fame in 1989 with her role in the popular South African TV series Inkom’ Edla Yodwa.
In Black Panther (2018), she played Zawavari, a member of the Wakandan Tribal Council, and in the sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), she took over as Wakanda’s Elder Statesman from Forest Whitaker’s character, Zuri.
Chiume also received acclaim for her role as Simba’s mother, Sarabi, in Beyoncé’s Disney film adaptation of The Lion King.
Her latest work included the film Heart of the Hunter, released earlier this year, and the TV series Soon Comes Night, which aired in February.
She won several awards throughout her career, including an NTVA Avanti Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series for Soul City in 2000 and a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) for Best Supporting Actress in Zone 14 in 2009.
Born in Welkom, Free State, to a Malawian father and a Zulu mother, she initially trained as a nurse but became a teacher.
In 2022, she shared on the MacG Podcast that she wanted to be remembered in the way people felt she impacted them.
Tributes are pouring in on social media, with many fans and the South African government praising her versatile acting career. She is survived by her four children: two sons and two daughters.
