Tsidii Le Loka

Tsidii Le Loka-Lupindo (born April 3, 1968, in Lesotho) is an actress, vocalist and composer from South Africa and The Kingdom of Lesotho. She is best known for originating the role of Rafiki in the original Broadway production of Disney's stage musical, The Lion King.

Early life and education Le Loka was born Tsidii Le Loka-Lupindo on April 3, 1968 in Lesotho to a professor of health education and a professor of history and literature. Her mother is from Transkei, while her father is from Lesotho; at least one side of her family descends from the Zulu. She was the third of four children, and attended one of the first private schools in Lesotho to racially integrate in the early seventies. Along with Malebo and Faith Shadi Kekana, Le Loka formed a new group, Shadiii, and released a maxi single titled, "Yes I'm Gonna Give It Up" in 1985, produced by Sizwe Zako. She also took extra credit courses at Berklee College of Music, and later earned a diploma in Speech and Drama from Trinity College of Music in London. She was nominated for a Leon Rabin Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role.

On May 25, 2000, she was awarded the Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement in Musical Theatre from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, the first woman of Southern African origin to receive this award. Her television special "Caught In The Act" on WGBY won an Iris Award for best local program. The television special Tsidii Le Loka In Concert aired on TBS. She was invited to perform at Nelson Mandela's first International Press Conference in Johannesburg after his release from prison.

In 2004, Le Loka released an album titled "Here's to the Night".

In 2018, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio proclaimed September 26th as Tsidii Le Loka day in honor of her work as an artist and humanitarian.

Albums Here's To The Night, original CD (featuring Tsidii) The Lion King On Broadway, original cast (featuring Tsidii, Heather Headley, Jason Raize, Sam Wright and company) Yusef Lateef, Heart Vision (featuring Tsidii and Neenna Freelon) Bob Beldon, When Doves Cry (featuring Tsidii, Casandra Wilson, Fareed Haque and others) Riverdance On Broadway (featuring Tsidii, Brian Kennedy and Riverdance company) Tsidii Le Loka, Here's To The Night (featuring Tsidii) Shadiii, Livin It Up (featuring Tsidii, Anneline Malebo, Faith Kekana) Shadiii, Last Chance (featuring Tsidii, Anneline Malebo, Faith Kekana)

Awards and nominations In 2018, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio proclaimed September 26th as Tsidii Le Loka day.