Tsidii Le Loka (born April , , in Lesotho) is an actress, vocalist and
composer from South Africa and The Kingdom of Lesotho. She is best
known for originating the role of Rafiki in the original Broadway
production of Disney's stage musical, The Lion King.Prior to coming to
the United States, The Star Newspaper[which?] named Tsidii one of the
most promising artists in South Africa. Tsidii collaborated and
performed as a guest star in various productions including
"Riverdance" on Broadway, in which she shared the stage with Irish
star Brian Kennedy; and in "Canciones Antes una Guerra / Songs Before
the War" (Maria Pages' Flamenco Company ) which toured Spain and Italy
and won best show of the Seville Bi-Centinial Flamenco Festival (XIII
Bienal De Flamenco de Sevilla). With the invitation of her
now-deceased mentor Anneline Malebo (former lead singer of the female
trio JOY), Tsidii started her career as a member of the newly formed
South African Trio "Shadiii" with Anneline Malebo and Faith Kekana.In
, Le Loka originated the role of Rafiki in the first Broadway cast of
The Lion King, produced by Disney and directed by Julie Taymor. For
her performance, Tsidii received the Drama Desk Award, Drama League
Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress
in a Musical, and garnered a Tony Award nomination. Tsidii was the
only performer in The Lion King to also compose a piece, "Rafiki
Mourns". She has also been awarded the Ivor Novello Award for
International Achievement in Musical Theatre from The British Academy
of Composers and Songwriters (the first woman of Southern African
original to receive this award). Tsidii stayed on the production for
almost a year, leaving in mid-. She was replaced by South African
singer Thuli Dumakude.Le Loka's film and TV credits include roles in
two made-for-television movies, Rose Red and The Diary of Ellen
Rimbauer, and Law & Order. Her television special "Caught In The Act"
on WGBY won an Iris Award for best local program. The television
special Tsidii Le Loka In Concert aired on TBS. She was invited to
perform at Dr. Nelson Mandela's first International Press Conference
in Johannesburg after his release from prison. Tsidii holds two
degrees: BA Economics and BA Music (both with honors from The
University Of Massachusetts, Amherst) and a Diploma in Speech and
Drama from The Trinity College of Music, London.
composer from South Africa and The Kingdom of Lesotho. She is best
known for originating the role of Rafiki in the original Broadway
production of Disney's stage musical, The Lion King.Prior to coming to
the United States, The Star Newspaper[which?] named Tsidii one of the
most promising artists in South Africa. Tsidii collaborated and
performed as a guest star in various productions including
"Riverdance" on Broadway, in which she shared the stage with Irish
star Brian Kennedy; and in "Canciones Antes una Guerra / Songs Before
the War" (Maria Pages' Flamenco Company ) which toured Spain and Italy
and won best show of the Seville Bi-Centinial Flamenco Festival (XIII
Bienal De Flamenco de Sevilla). With the invitation of her
now-deceased mentor Anneline Malebo (former lead singer of the female
trio JOY), Tsidii started her career as a member of the newly formed
South African Trio "Shadiii" with Anneline Malebo and Faith Kekana.In
, Le Loka originated the role of Rafiki in the first Broadway cast of
The Lion King, produced by Disney and directed by Julie Taymor. For
her performance, Tsidii received the Drama Desk Award, Drama League
Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress
in a Musical, and garnered a Tony Award nomination. Tsidii was the
only performer in The Lion King to also compose a piece, "Rafiki
Mourns". She has also been awarded the Ivor Novello Award for
International Achievement in Musical Theatre from The British Academy
of Composers and Songwriters (the first woman of Southern African
original to receive this award). Tsidii stayed on the production for
almost a year, leaving in mid-. She was replaced by South African
singer Thuli Dumakude.Le Loka's film and TV credits include roles in
two made-for-television movies, Rose Red and The Diary of Ellen
Rimbauer, and Law & Order. Her television special "Caught In The Act"
on WGBY won an Iris Award for best local program. The television
special Tsidii Le Loka In Concert aired on TBS. She was invited to
perform at Dr. Nelson Mandela's first International Press Conference
in Johannesburg after his release from prison. Tsidii holds two
degrees: BA Economics and BA Music (both with honors from The
University Of Massachusetts, Amherst) and a Diploma in Speech and
Drama from The Trinity College of Music, London.
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