Lasizwe - Biography, Real Name, Age and Career
Lasizwe, whose real name is Thulasizwe Dambuza, is a South African social media influencer and media personality. He is a multifaceted talent, serving as a YouTuber, radio host, actor, and social media personality. Known for his humorous YouTube videos and engaging social media presence, Lasizwe has captured the attention of many in South Africa.
His content often humorously reflects the daily lives of South Africans, allowing viewers to relate to his interpretations of everyday behavior. He gained widespread fame as the first African to host a reality TV show on MTV Africa, titled "@Lasizwe: Fake It Till You Make It," which achieved three successful seasons in less than two years. This accomplishment earned him a spot on the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list.
In addition to his reality show, Lasizwe is the creator and host of the YouTube series "Awkward Dates," where he goes on blind dates with various celebrities, adding a fun twist to the dating experience.
Early Life
Lasizwe was born in Soweto, South Africa, on July 19, 1998, making him 26 years old in 2024. He attended Meredale Primary School, a mixed-race primary school in Meredale, south of Johannesburg, before continuing his education at Mondeor High School in Mondeor.
Lasizwe's mother, Lindiwe Dambuza, who passed away in 2016, was a nurse at Lesedi Private Hospital, and he was in a relationship with his father, Menzi Mcunu. His sister, Zonke Nkabinde, also played a significant role in his upbringing, guiding and protecting him throughout his life.
From a young age, Lasizwe felt different and found himself uncomfortable around boys while being able to relate to feminine topics. By the age of 15, he recognized and accepted that he was gay.
Personal Life and Controversies
Lasizwe, whose real name is Thulasizwe Dambuza, is a prominent South African social media influencer known for his engaging YouTube videos and vibrant personality. Born on July 19, 1998, in Soweto, he turned 26 in 2024. He gained recognition for his humorous take on everyday South African life and became the first African to host a reality TV show on MTV Africa titled "@Lasizwe: Fake It Till You Make It," which ran for three successful seasons and earned him a spot on the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 list.
Lasizwe attended Meredale Primary and Mondeor High School. His mother, Lindiwe Dambuza, who passed away in 2016, was a nurse, while his father, Menzi Mcunu, was not involved in his life. Growing up with two sisters, including the famous TV personality Khanyi Mbau, Lasizwe recognized his sexuality at age 15, noting that his father’s absence influenced his identity.
His relationship with his mother was strained, particularly regarding his sexuality; she struggled to accept that her son was gay, leading to a six-month period of silence between them. Recently, Lasizwe faced controversy when blogger Phil Mphela called him out for claiming he owned his house, which was actually rented with his boyfriend, Cedric. Khanyi Mbau later confirmed this revelation, expressing her disappointment in her brother's dishonesty.
Career
Before embarking on his successful career, Lasizwe’s mother supported his aspirations by taking him to television auditions weekly across Gauteng from a young age. However, when he was 12, she explained that these auditions were no longer financially feasible for their family. Undeterred, Lasizwe participated in various competitions that offered prizes like phones or audio-visual equipment. His big break came when he won a phone from a radio competition, which he used to start creating content. Utilizing his mother's laptop, he learned basic video editing and stored his videos on DVD discs to watch on a TV screen.
Motivated by his desire to be on television, Lasizwe began posting videos on Facebook, ultimately creating relatable South African content. His breakout video, "Ek Sal Doom Jou," which humorously depicted a controversial pastor spraying insect repellent on his congregants, went viral and attracted brand collaborations for commercials.
Between 2020 and 2021, Lasizwe raised R2 million to support students in need of registration fees amid the "Fees Must Fall" protests in South Africa. His "R10 Goes a Long Way" campaign positively impacted 313 students.
In June 2022, Lasizwe was recognized on the Forbes Africa '30 Under 30' list, an achievement he dedicated to his late parents. He expressed his gratitude on Twitter, reflecting on his journey from making videos in Pimville, Soweto, to earning a spot on Forbes.
Broadcast media
Lasizwe has made significant strides in the entertainment industry, appearing as one of the main presenters on MTV Base Africa's "You Got Got." He has also hosted shows on SABC 3's "The Scoop Africa" and SABC 1's "The Real Goboza." His versatility was showcased when he hosted an outdoor event with Mabala Noise and presented an award at the 2017 South African Hip Hop Awards. His talent led to features in commercials, including Nando's and as the new teen marketing director for Fanta.
In late 2017, he became a radio presenter on TouchHD and, in 2018, took on the role of host for e.tv's youth show "Craz-e World Live," as well as VOOV TV's "VOOVScoop." His innovative content creation earned him a deal with GAME Stores in May 2019, following a viral video featuring his character "Nomatriquency" interviewing for a position there.
Lasizwe starred in the Netflix film "Seriously Single" in July 2020 and hosted the SABC 1 and Telkom music show "Telkom Monate Vibes" later that year. In September 2021, he collaborated with Steers on the #NomatriquencyxSteers campaign, showcasing his beloved character in a new light. He also hosted a Comedy Central Roast spin-off that same year.
On April 1, 2022, Lasizwe joined the cast of e.tv's "Durban Gen" and was nominated for Favorite Personality at the 2022 DStv Mzansi Viewers' Choice Awards. He is set to make a cameo in the Netflix series "Savage Beauty." In August 2022, he won two Prism Awards for his online persona, Nomatriquency, and hosted the 16th edition of the annual South African Film and Television Awards on September 3, 2022.
His success continued in September 2023, when he won the second season of Canon's reality TV series "The Perfect Picture." In November 2023, Lasizwe was a cast member on Trevor Noah's comedy series competition "LOL: Last One Laughing South Africa," where entertainers compete for a R1 million prize for their chosen South African charity. In May 2024, he served on the panel for the Showmax and Laugh Africa Comedy roast of Minnie Dlamini.
Music
In December 2017, Lasizwe was featured in the music video for the song "Jiva Phez'kombhede," performed by Babes Wodumo and Ntando Duma.
YouTube
As a prominent YouTuber, Lasizwe has garnered over 80 million views on his videos. His growing popularity was recognized in April 2019 when he received the silver play button from YouTube for surpassing 100,000 subscribers.
In June 2023, Lasizwe launched his new YouTube show, "Awkward Dates," with the first episode premiering in July as a birthday present for himself. The series is a comedic take on blind dating, where Lasizwe goes on dates with various celebrities. He shared his inspiration for the show with Daily Sun, revealing that the idea emerged during one of the darkest periods of his life. According to him, one day, he watched a show called Chicken Shop Date by a UK content creator and got inspired. He started thinking about how he could make it better and more personal.
Following its success, "Awkward Dates" received a nomination for Best Online Content at the 2024 South African Film and Television Awards.
Endorsements
In early 2018, Lasizwe became the Teen Marketing Director for Fanta. His influence and impact on social media earned him a nomination for a Feather Award for Social Media Personality of the Year, and he was presented with a People's Choice Award in 2021. He has also been recognized as one of the top YouTubers in South Africa under the age of 24 and received a nomination as The E! African Social Star in 2021. Notably, he is the first South African to secure an endorsement deal for a fictional character he created, named "Nomatriquency."
In September 2023, Lasizwe won season 2 of Canon’s hit reality TV series, “The Perfect Picture”, where he was awarded a coveted trophy along with a cheque for R150,000 and R100,000 worth of Canon gear.
In June 2024, Volvo Cars South Africa appointed Lasizwe and Thea Booysen as EX30 Champions to promote the company's newest electric vehicle, the EX30. During the campaign, Lasizwe showcased an Autumn-Winter '24 Ready-to-Wear outfit designed by local fashion designer Nao Serati, which was inspired by Volvo’s interior using AI technology.
Filmography
2010 - Generations
2015 - Dinner With Vuzu
2017 - MTV You Got Got
2017 - The Scoop Africa
2017 - The Real Gaboza
2018 - Craz-e World Live
2018 - VOOVScoop
2018 - MTV You Got Got
2019 - @Lasizwe: Fake It Till You Make It
2020 - Seriously Single
2020 - Telkom Monate Vibes
2022 - Durban Gen
2023 - LOL: Last One Laughing South Africa
2023 - The Perfect Picture
2024 - Laugh Africa Comedy: Roast of Minnie Dlamini
Awards Won
2018 - Ranked #7 on the 100 most influential young South Africans in the Avance Media Awards
2018 - Lifestyle Category in the Avance Media Awards
2022 - Media relations (Gold) in the Prism Awards
2022 - Media Relations (Silver) in the Prism Awards
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