SEARCH engine Google celebrated the late Nomhle Nkonyeni on what would have been her 80th birthday.
The actress, who died in 2019 after a short illness, would have turned 80 on Saturday, 9 April.
Google, via its site and logo that commemorated holidays, events, achievements and notable historical figures of particular countries, Doodle, put her as the logo.
“Today’s Doodle celebrates the 80th birthday of Nomhle, a black South African actress who overcame discrimination to take the stage during apartheid,” it wrote.
It listed some of the iconic star’s achievements in her craft, including becoming the first black actor to perform at the CAPAB theatre in Cape Town.
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“Nomhle was born on this day in 1942 in Gqeberha. Her notable acting career began as early as age 19, when she co-founded the Serpent Players. This interracial theatre troupe’s name was inspired by the abandoned snake pit in which they were forced to first perform due to discrimination. Nomhle continued to defy discrimination laws, with the acting group eventually drawing interracial audiences to view political protest theatre,” it continued.
“Almost two decades later, she made history by becoming the first black actress to perform at the CAPAB theatre, a major performing arts centre in Cape Town. She played the lead role in Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena, that details the struggles of a black South African woman navigating discriminatory laws.”
Nomhle starred in international and local productions including Igazi, Skin, Zulu, Knuckle City, Tsha Tsha, Society, Zulu, Red Dust and Scandal!.
She also won awards including the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award from the South African Film and Television Awards as well as the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver in 2019 for her contribution in the arts and culture.
