Come Saturday, May 9, 2026, South African actress Nomzano Mbatha, alongside comedian Bovi Ugboma, will be co-hosts for the 12th edition of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).
They replace long-time host IK Osakioduwa, ending his 11-year run as host and marking a new era for the prestigious African film awards.
Here are some facts about the actress, accountant, television personality, businesswoman, and human rights activist.
1. Nomzano Mbatha was born on July 13, 1990, in KwaMashu Township.
2. She is of Zulu ethnicity.
3. She attended Rippon Primary School in Durban and Bechet High School, where she obtained her high school diploma.
4. She bagged a Bachelor of Commerce degree specializing in accounting from the University of Cape Town in 2018.
5. Mbatha made her acting debut as Thandeka Zungu in the popular television series Isibaya in 2013, which shot her into the limelight.
6. In 2015, she took a step further and made her film debut in Tell Me Sweet Something. Some of her other films include The Jakes are Missing (2013), All About Love (2017), and Shaka iLembe (2023)
7. She began hosting a reality travel show called Holiday Swap on the South African Broadcasting Corporation in 2015.
8. Mbatha has also built a name in Hollywood with roles in two movies, Coming 2 America (2021) and Assassin (2023), featuring alongside big names like Eddie Murphy and Bruce Willis.
9. She founded Nomzamo Lighthouse Foundation, a non-profit organization, in 2015 to address socio-economic challenges affecting marginalized communities.
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10. She was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for UNHCR in January 2019.
11. Mbatha has received several nominations, including an Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress nomination for playing “Moratiwa” in Tell Me Sweet Something.
12. She has hosted and been a speaker at various high-profile events, including the Global Citizens Concert (2024), Earthshot Week (2024), the World Economic Forum Young Global Leaders summit, and Global Citizen NOW (2025).
13. She was listed on the prestigious TIME’s 100 Next list in 2025.
14. She was announced as the first-ever South African ambassador for haircare brand Creme of Nature in June 2025.
