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Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela has been portrayed in many feature films and made-for-TV movies since the 1960s. Oscar winners, Bafta winners, Golden Globe winners, Empire Award winners and even MTV Movie Award winners have played the elderly statesman in African prints, and have done it with pride.
Actor, activist and honorary shop steward Danny Glover played Nelson Mandela in the 1987 TV drama Mandela. Glover was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor the following year for his role in this "unabashedly reverential" biopic.
Ten years later the legendary Sidney Poitier played Mandela opposite Michael Caine (who was former president F.W. de Klerk) in another made-for-TV docudrama, Mandela and De Klerk. The story followed Mandela and de Klerk's relationship combining real news footage and dramatised sequences, during the final days of Apartheid. Although it didn't win any big awards, Poitier was nominated for an Emmy and Screen Actors Guild Award.
Mandela was then featured as smaller characters in the biographic Diana: A Tribute to the People's Princess (1998), the comedy drama Jeffrey Archer: The Truth (2002), La Valse des gros derrières (2004) and the comedy TV series Ruddy Hell! It's Harry and Paul (2007).
In 2007 Dennis Haysbert, who is familiar with playing black presidents (TV series 24), portrayed the former president in Goodbye Bafana. The biographical drama is based on Mandela's prison memoirs and the meaningful impact he had on prison warder James Gregory.
Next year Morgan Freeman will throw his name behind The Human Factor, a retelling of Mandela's efforts to unite South Africa while hosting the 1995 Rugby World Cup. The film has already received quite a bit of media coverage after it was announced that Clint Eastwood would direct the project and Matt Damon play former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar.
After all this time, Madiba has only been played by two South African born actors: Simon Sabela in the 1966 two-part West German TV documentary Der Rivonia-Prozeß and Lindani Nkosi in 2004's feature film Drum. And we think it's time our local lads took the reins.
But the father of our nation has lived a colourful life and it's almost impossible for one actor to portray the many roles Nelson Mandela has taken on during his long and fulfilling life. We suggest a few good men who could take on the roles Madiba's played in his life so far...
Presley Chweneyagae - The Young Man
Many might be stuck believing Chweneyagae can only play tsotsis, but his role as the cool, calm and collected political activist Mark Shinners in More Than Just a Game (2008) shows off a disciplined young man who could bring to screen a young, and sometimes mischievous, Rolihlahla.
Read Presley's profile.
Hlomla Dandala – The Lawyer
TV series celeb Hlomla Dandala's roles on Isidingo (1998-2001) and All You Need is Love (2002-2003) on the free channels made him a recognisable face, but it was the major part in JoziH (2007) and the lead in M-Net's Jacob's Cross (2007-2008) that made him a household name across the country. Although he has the physical build to measure up to Madiba, it's his air of dignified humility that makes him a great contender for the distinguished role as partner of the low-cost legal firm Mandela and Tambo.
Read Hlomla's profile.
Tumisho Masha – The Military Man
Another Isidingo legend, Tumisho Masha has also taken to presenting Top Billing inserts from time to time. Although the well-groomed Masha might not look it, his role as guerrilla leader Obadi in Catch a Fire leads us to believe he would be well cast as the Umkhonto we Sizwe co-founder and leader of the ANC's military wing in 1961.
Read Tumisho's profile.
John Kani – The Statesman
A celebrated playwright and thespian, John Kani won a Tony Award with his writing partners Athol Fugard and Winston Ntshona for Sizwe Banzi Is Dead during the 1970s. Not afraid to take risks and challenge perceptions, the multi-award-winner has a striking presence that commands attention and respect, perfect to portray a determined negotiator, yet diplomatic president.
Read John's profile.
But maybe we overlooked a candidate? Tell us who you think should be on this list.
- Megan Kakora
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