Actor and musician Mafashion exemplifies raw talent
This creative's remarkable performances in Mzansi Magic's DiepCity earned him a nomination for Best Newcomer at the Royalty Soapie Awards in 2023.
A musician and actor seen on national TV shows such as Isitha: The Enemy and DiepCity, Phenius ‘Mafashion’ Bullets, is shooting for the stars.
The 22-year-old has portrayed outstanding performances like the character of a gangster named Osama on Mzansi Magic’s DiepCity, which bagged him a nomination at the Royalty Soapie Awards in 2023 as best newcomer.
“The opportunity to work on this production came at a time when I really needed a breakthrough. I went from the classroom to TV without a qualification in performing arts or anything related to acting. I have lived in Soweto for some parts of my life so it was easy to portray the character. I know how a gangster behaves.”
He currently portrays Nyiko in Isitha: The Enemy on eTV. He said this Siswati-speaking character is a tribute to Mpumalangans as he was taught the language when he moved to this province when he was younger.
Mafashion and his family moved from Soweto to Mshadza near Masoyi in 2016, where it was quite challenging for him to pursue his passion for performing arts.
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“I started acting when I was in Grade Five. I participated in most extracurricular activities but I fell deeply in love with acting. I feel free and I get to portray characters that are not similar to my personality. When we moved, it was hard for me to come out as an actor and have opportunities made available to me in Mpumalanga. No one even believed me when I told them I could act, but I did not want anything make me to give up on my dream,” Mafashion said.
He made his first-ever appearance in a film titled Margarine that was selected to feature at an international film festival, American Black Film Festival. He recently featured on various productions such as Nkalakatha: The Life of Mandoza, and feature films called Mjolo the Pandemic and Kleva-ish.
The multitalented creative said his love of music comes from his mother, whom he said sang at any time. “I started singing in church where I was also a choir conductor. I love music because I can use it to express myself.”
In 2022, Mafashion released his first-ever album titled, Umongameli wama supa with seven amapiano songs. In April this year, he released an EP titled Bakuphi with five songs and a single called ‘Boma something’.
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“I am working and entering the entertainment industry with full force. I want to uplift myself and land gigs and major leading roles on big productions so I can build a house for my siblings and erect a tombstone for my late mother,” he said.
