Atandwa Kani
Encyclopedia
Atandwa Kani is a South African actor who recently made his United States
television debut in the program Life Is Wild
. Kani is the son of John Kani
, a well known South African actor.
Other lead roles in student productions that he's been involved in include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Much Ado About nothing, Once on This Island, Translations, I need a Gun..
In 2010 Kani starred in Life Is Wild
's sister show Wild at Heart
Series 5 and he returned to the show in its sixth series in 2011.
Kani graduated in 2008, attaining an honours degree in theatrical performance at the University of Witwatersrand. He currently resides in Johannesburg
, South Africa. He has recently returned form returned from his international stage debut in The Tempest, a collaboration between the Baxter Theatre Center and the RSC, where he played Ariel alongside his father (Caliban) and Sir Antony Sher (Prospero). One reviewer described him as "the star of this production...he was a true pleasure to watch, embodying the character and interacting beautifully with the rest of the cast", Sean Hewitt of the Nottingham local news site, www.thisisnottingham.co.uk, writes "in the musical, scene-stealing Atandwa Kani, the best Ariel I've ever seen". He is currently working on two new plays, Hayani and ID Pending, which explore ideas of home and identity for young South Africans in very different ways. Together with fellow actor and Wits graduate, Nat Ramabulana, and directed by Warren Nebe they will be premiering both productions at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival in 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television debut in the program Life Is Wild
Life Is Wild
Life Is Wild is an American television serial drama adapted by Michael Rauch, George Faber and Charlie Pattinson from the popular British drama Wild at Heart. The show is about a New York veterinarian who moves his second wife and their two sets of children to a South African game reserve run by...
. Kani is the son of John Kani
John Kani
Bonsile John Kani is a South African actor, director and playwright.He was born in New Brighton, South Africa.Kani joined The Serpent Players in Port Elizabeth in 1965 and helped to create many plays that went unpublished but were performed to a resounding reception.These...
, a well known South African actor.
Other lead roles in student productions that he's been involved in include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Much Ado About nothing, Once on This Island, Translations, I need a Gun..
In 2010 Kani starred in Life Is Wild
Life Is Wild
Life Is Wild is an American television serial drama adapted by Michael Rauch, George Faber and Charlie Pattinson from the popular British drama Wild at Heart. The show is about a New York veterinarian who moves his second wife and their two sets of children to a South African game reserve run by...
's sister show Wild at Heart
Wild at Heart (TV series)
Wild at Heart is a current ITV television drama series about a Bristol-based vet and his family emigrating to start a game park in South Africa. The show premiered in January 2006 and has recently finished screening its sixth series...
Series 5 and he returned to the show in its sixth series in 2011.
Personal life
Kani is born in Port Elizabeth in South Africa, Atandwa Kani is the son of John Kani, a well-known actor in South Africa. At a young age, he was exposed to the entertainment industry, and after spending time with his father while reading scripts and attending theater performances, he was greatly influenced to follow the footsteps of his father. He is educated at the University of Witwatersrand, where is studying theater performance and actively participating in school productions.Kani graduated in 2008, attaining an honours degree in theatrical performance at the University of Witwatersrand. He currently resides in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa. He has recently returned form returned from his international stage debut in The Tempest, a collaboration between the Baxter Theatre Center and the RSC, where he played Ariel alongside his father (Caliban) and Sir Antony Sher (Prospero). One reviewer described him as "the star of this production...he was a true pleasure to watch, embodying the character and interacting beautifully with the rest of the cast", Sean Hewitt of the Nottingham local news site, www.thisisnottingham.co.uk, writes "in the musical, scene-stealing Atandwa Kani, the best Ariel I've ever seen". He is currently working on two new plays, Hayani and ID Pending, which explore ideas of home and identity for young South Africans in very different ways. Together with fellow actor and Wits graduate, Nat Ramabulana, and directed by Warren Nebe they will be premiering both productions at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival in 2009.