Sivuyile Ngesi

Sivuyile Ngesi (born 28 October 1985) is a South African actor, comedian, presenter, and producer.

Early life Ngesi was born to a Xhosa family of four children in Gugulethu in the east of Cape Town. He spent his early childhood there before moving to Langa and later Pinelands. His mother Jacqueline is a school principal. He lost his father to a car accident in 2004. Ngesi attended Pinelands High School and trained at the Waterfront Theatre School and Jazzart Dance Theatre. He explained during the #FeesMustFall movement that he was unable to afford university.

Career Ngesi began his career as a child actor, playing Gavroche in Les Misérables on tour in Asia. He also performed a piece from the musical for Nelson Mandela.

Ngesi made his television debut in the Disney Channel Original Movie Zenon: Z3 as Bobby and his feature film debut in The World Unseen. He guest starred as Thomas in 24: Redemption, a 2008 television film sequel to the Fox action series 24, and had a small role in the Nelson Mandela and Francois Pienaar biopic Invictus.

Ngesi embarked on a one-man comedy show DeKaf, which ran for three years at the National Arts Festival and won the Golden Ovation Award for Best Comedy at the 2010 festival. He then took the show on a national tour.

Ngesi starred opposite Rob van Vuuren in the 2012 crime comedy film Copposites. He, van Vuuren, and Danielle Bischoff created the children's book series Florence & Watson as well as it accompanying stage show.

In 2014, Ngesi competed alongside dance partner Marcella Solimeo in the seventh season of Strictly Come Dancing, placing fifth in the competition that year.

Ngesi has hosted the magazine show The Man Cave since 2015, winning one out two nominations for Best TV Presenter at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs). In 2016, he began hosting and producing the reality cooking competition show Jou Ma se Chef. He had a recurring role as Udo in the third season of the Starz historical adventure series Black Sails.

Ngesi produced 14 shows at the 2017 National Arts Festival, taking home a Spirit of the Fringe award for his contributions to the festival that year.

In 2019, Ngesi appeared in three films: Knuckle City, which became South Africa's Academy Award submission in the Best International Feature Film category; Bhai's Cafe, a Bollywood-style musical; and the Afrikaans romantic comedy Kaalgat Karel. The following year, Ngesi joined the cast of the Showmax drama Still Breathing as the character T-Boss.

Ngesi created and began performing under the drag persona Sivanna in 2021. The name is a portmanteau of the cider drink Savanna and the Xhosa word Siyavana. He hosted the Cape Town Drag Brunch that December.

Ngesi joined the Showmax comedy Tali's Baby Diary for its second season as well as the Netflix drama Jiva. His recurring role as Victor in Dam, also on Showmax, earned him his first acting nomination at the 2022 SAFTAs for Best Supporting Actor, having received nods for his presenting work in the past.

It was revealed in January 2022 that Ngesi had joined the cast of the upcoming Gina Prince-Bythewood-directed and Viola Davis-produced film The Woman King.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2007 The World Unseen John 2009 Invictus England Rose Albert Schweitzer Minkoe 2010 Christmas in South Africa Guide 2012 Copposites Alfred "Sharky" Majola 2013 Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Aide 2016 Honey 3: Dare to Dance DJ Zubair Khumalo 2017 Finders Keepers SS 2019 Bhai's Cafe Patrick Knuckle City Goatee 438 Days Chala 2020 American Dream Jude 2021 Kaalgat Karel Vuyo 2022 Daryn's Gym Jackson The Woman King The Migan TBATBA

Television Year Title Role Notes 2004 Zenon: Z3 Bobby Disney Channel Original Movie 2008 24: Redemption Thomas Television film 2010 League of Glory Kaiser Sigcau Season 1 2011 Verschollen am Kap Youssou Miniseries 2012 Auf der Spur des Löwen Noah Television film 2012 S.I.E.S. Ike Molefe Main role 2014 Strictly Come Dancing Himself Season 7 2015–present The Man Cave Himself Seasons 3– 2016 Jou Ma se Chef Black Sails Udo 4 episodes 2017 Wingin' It Himself Tropika Island of Treasure Season 7 2020 Still Breathing T-Boss 13 episodes 2021 Tali's Baby Diary Selebi Season 2 Dam Victor 4 episodes JIVA! Paul 6 episodes

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref 2010 Ovation Awards Best Comedy DeKaf 2017 Spirit of the Fringe Award South African Film and Television Awards Best TV Presenter The Man Cave 2018 Wingin' It 2019 The Man Cave Ovation Awards The Chocolate Chronicles Tats is Cancelled 2022 South African Film and Television Awards Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama Dam DStv Content Creator Awards Cause Award