Bahumi Mhlongo. Picture: Instagram
With her father as a prominent media personality, her mother thriving in the film industry, and her late mother being an esteemed acting veteran, Bahumi Mhlongo is more than ready to meet the high expectations placed upon her.
As the daughter of former Idols SA judge Somizi Mhlongo and actress Palesa Madisakwane, she embraces this legacy with confidence and conviction, proving that she is not intimidated by the weight of her family’s reputation.
In a recent interview on the renowned Engineer Your Life podcast, she opened up on what life on some of the challenges she has had to deal with, with the family surname resting on her shoulders.
Just like her parents, Bahumi was always going to be destined to find success, with a strong academic background which saw her studying Bachelor of Commerce, and later venturing into dramatic arts, her path to prominence was shaped by the rich lineage that she comes from, despite this, she highlights that getting into the entertainment space was not the easiest thing for her to do.
In her interview, she highlighted that her initial years breaking into the industry were met with much criticism from the public; this often resulted in many labeling her a “nepo baby” (short for nepotism).
“I have a complicated relationship with the term. I don’t hate it. I just don’t think there is anything wrong with people in your family helping you out with opportunities and resources.”
However, she reveals that her acting journey was not a result of nepotism. Instead, there have been several instances where she has opted to follow her own path and really put herself to the test with various auditions without her parents being aware.
Bahumi highlighted that this often resulted in several “no’s” but that it was important to build her character.
“There were many times I could have reached out to my parents, but I didn’t, and still, people assume everything was handed to me.”
She recalled that one of the turning points in her career came at a time where she asked advice from her father, and he refused to assist her.
“I asked him for guidance, and he said, ‘No, don’t do that.’ When I asked why, he looked at me and said, ‘No, don’t be like me.’ He said it with such conviction, and I felt the weight of it.”
This has ultimately encouraged her to maintain her integrity and forge her own path in the industry.
Also see: Palesa Madisakwane opens up about relationship with Somizi – ‘He didn’t act gay’
