By Tshegofatso Khwinana Tebatso Mashishi, who plays the character Kgosi in the popular SABC 2 soapy, Muvhango says it was the discrimination he faced as a child with Albinism that led to his love of TV. He was born in 1993, at Rathoke village in Limpopo. As a child with Albinism, life was not easy. “It was rough. I didn’t go outside a lot because of the sun and being discriminated against. So I spent most of my time in the house reading, watching TV, cartoons. That’s where my love for TV comes from,” said Mashishi.
He went on to study drama and film at the Tshwane University of Technology where he graduated with a B-tech.
In 2019, he landed his first big acting role in a local movie, Matwetwe. He played the role of a young boy called Papi. The movie was shown across all South African cinemas. The movie has also been played on DSTV, Showmax, Box Office and Mzanzi Magic.
Mashishi landed the role on Muvhango mid-2019 after Matwetwe had been running in the cinema for a couple of months. "The experience has been phenomenal, working with some of the people I used to look up to growing up has humbled me a lot to always be a student of the arts so that I can be on their level as well", says Mashishi.
Although he has grown a thick skin when it comes to being discriminated against because of his condition, Mashishi said he has not experienced such discrimination in the entertainment industry. In fact, he has found that his condition makes him “unique.” He does however say that his condition limits the roles he can play.
Mashshi is not just an actor, but he also makes music. He recently just released a music album titled, A Lot Happened. The rap album is dedicated to his late friend, Sibusiso Khwinana, who he had starred alongside in the movie Matwetwe, and who was stabbed to death in front of him. A moment he says changed his life forever. The songs on the album speak about his journey of healing from that trauma and other events of his life, like his father denying him and the passing of his mother.
