Nelisiwe spoke about her current character role, revealing that the story’s premise is near and dear to her because it echoes her own life in many respects. 

This storyline was great fun for me because it so accurately reflected the reality I currently inhabit. It was a lot of fun to accomplish, but by the end of it I felt emotionally and psychologically drained and physically fatigued. According to her, it has made a significant impact on her life and has taught her new things in many different areas. 

 

At the moment, Nelisiwe posted a cryptic letter on her blog in which she made a veiled reference to her ancestry’s calling. When discussing her family history, Nelisiwe Sibiya warned that her ancestors would certainly treat her enemies even more cruelly if they had treated her harshly for not accepting her calling. 

And if my own Dlozi’s can nyisa me all these years for not embracing my calling, think what they can do to my opponents,” Nelisiwe wrote. The punishment I received for rejecting my vocation made me think, “If they can nyisa me for not accepting my calling, imagine what they can do to my adversaries.” 

This article from the Durban General provides some fascinating background on Mbali. 

Mbali Mthethwa was born Nelisiwe Faith Sibiya on September 13, 1992 in Durban. She goes by Nelisiwe Faith Sibiya, which is her full name. She has a career in show business in South Africa, where she sings and acts. Her portrayal of Durban Gen on the show catapulted her to fame. One of her songs, “Mama ka Bafana,” was heavily influenced by African music. 

Sibiya was born and reared in Johannesburg by her mother and sister. She was just eight years old when her father was brutally killed in front of her and her siblings. Both of them, along with her sister, had been the victims of sexual assault in their aunt and uncle’s house, so they decided to leave. She enrolled at Tshwane University of Technology in January 2015 to pursue a degree in Music Theory. A scholarship she received in later years paid for her final two years of college. The mother of a graduating senior in 2016 passed away not long after her daughter’s ceremony. 

Career 

Her mother is one of a long line of famous vocalists. In the beginning of Nelisiwe’s career, she was helped by her sister. After her sister passed away, she began participating in the high school chorus. While in the chorus, she was able to learn both choral and classical singing techniques. During 2018, she made her playback debut with the performance of “Mama Ka Bafana,” the theme song for the prison television series Lockdown. The next year, in 2021, she was invited to try out for the lead part of “Dr. Mbali Mthethwa” on the Durban Gen television series, a medical drama. She won the Zikomo Award for Best Actress in Africa in 2021 for her outstanding performance.