Actress Andrea Dondolo has made a powerful return to the silver screen, joining the cast of the popular isiXhosa drama series, Inimba, after a five-year hiatus from acting.
Known for her commanding presence and emotionally rich performances, Dondolo had stepped away from the entertainment industry to focus on personal growth, spiritual healing and her work in community development.
Her return marks a deeply anticipated comeback, one that has been welcomed by fans and the acting fraternity.
“I did not take a break by choice, but it was rather imposed on me by my ancestors, as I had to go through a spiritual awakening journey and accept an ancestral calling.
“Before, a lot was happening in my life, it was difficult getting acting gigs, I would be involved in vehicle accidents.
“I needed time to reconnect with myself. Stepping away from the camera gave me clarity and strengthened my voice.
“Coming back now, I feel more grounded and more purposeful in the stories I want to tell.”
The actress, who hails from Whittlesea, went through a period in her life where depression took over, her career was not aligning with her hopes and dreams.
“I had to face my reality and accept my ancestral calling, which was very scary and not easy.
“Though it was a difficult journey, I learnt a lot of personal growth such as evolving spiritually, as I was going through it.
“I had to relearn my power, and operating on a higher level within my spiritual journey.
“I came out on top to the point that I wrote and published a book, so the journey was worth it,” Dondolo said.
Inimba, an emotionally intense series rooted in isiXhosa culture and storytelling, explores generational trauma, family secrets and the spiritual ties that bind.
Dondolo takes on the role of a matriarch torn between tradition and truth, a character she describes as “complex, rooted and painfully familiar to many African women”.
“The character Magaba Bikitsha I play in the series is changing lives of people. There is a lot the character has done for people.
“Magaba is a multilayered woman who goes through circumstances on the show that will allow viewers to peel away different layers along her journey.
“She comes from that generation that believes that you have to hold on no matter the situation you are in.
“We get to see her fight for her daughter’s dreams despite the challenges she’s facing.”
Dondolo first auditioned for three different characters on the show, before getting the role of Magaba.
“I received the news of getting the role while I was at home in my mom’s kitchen in Whittlesea.
“I was overwhelmed with a lot of emotions, because I had endured a lot of turmoil before I got this role.
“The first person I told was my mother, we were both excited, everything happened so fast, I had to quickly go to Johannesburg.”
Her casting in the series has excited long-time viewers, many of whom have followed her career since her days on shows like Tshisa and Home Affairs.
Fans took to social media to celebrate her return, praising her performance and her continued representation of indigenous languages and cultural authenticity.
As the series continues to captivate audiences with its rich storytelling and cultural resonance, Dondolo’s return signals a new chapter in her career, one filled with wisdom, power and renewed purpose.
The 46-year old said she was hoping to be part of the second season of the series, but for now she was enjoying the storytelling as that was what she was most passionate about.
“It is beautiful to play a character like Magaba, it keeps me grounded. I have been getting compliments on how I portray the character.
“Acting never left me. I just needed to pause, breathe and come back when the time and the role were right,” she said.
Inimba airs weeknights at 9pm on the Mzansi Magic channel 161 on DStv.
Daily Dispatch
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