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News - Date: 22 July 2005
THOHOYANDOU – Call him Guluto, Nthambe (Eke di), Thohokhulu, Simbilikit or Muzekezeke. Whenever he opens his mouth or moves his body, you will laugh until you cry. He is always surrounded by adoring fans wherever he goes.
He portrays primitive, uneducated, drunk and useless characters in famous radio dramas. But in real life, Stanley Musinyali is a responsible man who encourages the youth to take education seriously, before venturing fully into the acting industry.
“People tend to mix my life with the characters I play in the radio dramas. They expect to see a drunken and primitive man who does not care about life. I tell them that I am only acting and I do not even take alcohol in real life. I advise the youth not to follow the characters I play in the dramas because they will destroy their future. I am a man who likes education and the characters in the dramas have nothing to do with my life,” says Stanley, a Biology teacher at Shayandima High School.
The majority of his fans do not even know his real name; instead, they only call him Guluto, the character that made him famous in A ri athu vhona, an acclaimed drama on Phalaphala FM. He has played in more than 20 radio dramas since he started his acting career with the now defunct Radio Thohoyandou in 1987.
Born at Mukondeni, a small, remote rural village in the Thengwe area, Stanley was a natural entertainer from his primary school days. “My class mates just laughed at everything I said and I realized that I have a special acting talent. I represented my primary and secondary schools in stage dramas and brought back countless awards. It was a breakthrough when Radio Thohoyandou gave me the opportunity to prove myself - and the rest is now history.”
Amongst the famous radio dramas that made Stanley the darling of the listener’s ears are Hu nukha malofha, Phandula lu-valo, Midizmu i a hana and A ri athu vhona.
A family man with three kids, Stanley says he is ready to assist the youth who would like to try their luck in radio drama acting.
“I am always available to show them in workshops how they can make it in the radio drama acting industry. It needs someone who is dedicated and who has the love of acting at heart. Hard work is the only recipe for success.”
Stanley concluded by advising the youth not to compromise education for something else. “Education is the only vehicle that can transport us to a better future. An educated nation is productive and I encourage my younger brothers and sisters to study hard to improve their lives.”
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