Nay Maps’ biography: A look at the life of the actor and musician
Nkosinathi 'Nay Maps' Maphalala is a South African actor, model, singer, and entrepreneur. Most people know him for his portrayal of Mxolisi Mdletshe on the South African hit television series Uzalo. He has also had prominent roles in The Queen and Isibaya. What else is there to know about the celebrated actor besides his life on the big screen?
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
While Nay is well-known for his prolific acting and singing, he is also renowned for his impeccable fashion sense. His dress often earns him praise from his fans on social media. Here is a glimpse at the actor's details.
Profile summary
| Full name | Nkosinathi Maphalala |
| Nickname | Nay Maps |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 30th March 1989 |
| Age | 36 years old (as of January 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Aries |
| Place of birth | Pretoria, South Africa |
| Current residence | Pretoria, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Zulu |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in feet and inches | 6'1" |
| Height in centimetres | 185 |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Relationship status | Single |
| Father | The late Bishop Simeon Maphalala |
| Siblings | 2 sisters |
| Profession | Actor, musician, model |
| Alma mater | University of Pretoria |
| @naymaps | |
| Nay Maps |
Nay Maps' biography
Nay Maps is a South African actor born on 30th March 1989. He is the firstborn of three children born to the late Bishop Simeon Maphalala and his wife. Maps grew up alongside his two younger sisters in Pretoria, South Africa.
He completed his primary school education at the Sunnyside Primary School and later joined Lyttleton Manor High School. After completing his high school studies, he joined the University of Pretoria.
The celebrated actor pursued and graduated with a bachelor's degree in information technology with a major in programming and software.
What is the real name of Nay Maps?
Nay Maps' real name is Nkosinathi Maphalala. The 'Maps' nickname is derived from the actor's real-life second name.
Source: Original
Acting career
Nay Maps had a passion for creative arts from a very young age. While his university education was largely centred on computers, his first job was in Channel ANN7 television series, The Lifestyle Show.
Maps later worked as a professional model representing various brands in filmed commercials. In 2014, the actor landed his first prominent acting role when he was cast to play Tshepo in the South African soap opera Isibaya.
This was later followed by other roles, including Mxolisi from Uzalo. Here is a look at Maps' acting credits.
| Year | Film/TV show | Role |
| 2024 | A Wesley South African Christmas | Sam Brown |
| 2023 | Home Wrecker | Nay Maps |
| 2023 | The Honeymoon | Andile |
| 2021 | Little Big Mouth | Siya |
| 2019 | Blessers | Katlego |
| 2019 | Impilo: The Scam | Nay Maps |
| 2018 | Unkosikazi Wokuqala | Nay Maps |
| 2015 | Uzalo | Mxolisi Xulu |
How did Maps manage to appear in three shows around the same time?
At some point in his career, Nay Maps had to juggle between roles in three television shows and a film. He appeared in a supporting role on Imbewu: The Seed, Muvhango, and Umkhokha.
At the same time, he had a role in the Netflix comedy special Little Big Mouth alongside Amanda du Pont. The actor credits this achievement to his teachable spirit and open-mindedness.
He also stated that his passion and discipline helped keep him grounded when things got challenging.
Music career
Besides acting, Nay Maps is a musician and has released several singles. His upcoming project features an exciting collaboration with amapiano sensation LeeMckrazy, merging his acting prowess with a fresh musical journey.
Describing his transition, Nay Maps referred to the experience as "captivating and quite satisfying." He shared:
I'm grateful that I can do acting and music as they are my first love. The music industry is different, especially when it comes to the promotion of it. Nowadays, you really have to think out of the box, like creating these dance challenges to get your music out there. That's a whole different way than how it went down back in the day.
Born into a musically inclined family, Nay Maps has always been surrounded by the art form. He explained:
I come from a musical family. My dad was a gifted musician and singer. He would teach my sister and me songs, and we would often sing together as a family. Before he preached, my dad would have us sing, and that shaped my deep connection with music.
Talking about his upcoming EP, Nay Maps promises a feel-good project that will resonate with many people. He said:
As Africans, we love enjoying life, and this project is all about giving people a good time while providing heartfelt and soulful reflections of life experiences and lessons learned. I want to inspire people, touch their hearts while having fun.
He concluded by expressing that despite the demands of his acting and music careers, he is optimistic about finding a balance between them.
I find ways of getting time for both. Acting during the week and doing music over the weekend or at any other time when I am not on set. I love them both, but for now, music has taken centre stage.
Who is Nay Maps' wife?
Nay Maps has not publicly disclosed having a wife or being married. The actor keeps his personal life private, and no confirmed reports exist about his marital status.
Rumours have linked him to several women, including Nomcetho "Dot" Mthethwa, a South African singer and influencer.
Another ongoing rumor is about Hope Mbhele and Nay Maps' relationship. The two co-stars have been spotted together in various video clips, allegedly as a couple.
In 2016, Gugu Zulu, a Uzalo actress, dismissed dating rumours with Nay Maps, clarifying they were just friends.
Are Maps Maponyane and Nay Maps related?
Masego 'Maps' Maponyane is a well-known South African television show host, actor, producer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand. While he shares the nickname Maps with Nkosinathi Maphalala, the two are unrelated.
FAQs
- Who is Nay Maps? He is a South African actor and musician renowned for his roles in television series such as Uzalo and Umkhokha.
- Who is Nay Maps' mother? Information about Nay Maps' family, including his mother and siblings.
- Who is Nay Maps' sister? The South African actor has two sisters whose names are not known.
- Who is Nay Maps' girlfriend? The singer is currently presumed to be single.
- Is Nay Maps married in real life? Regarding his marital status, Nay Maps is not married in real life. Rumours have linked him romantically to various individuals, but he has not publicly confirmed any relationships.
- Is Nay Maps leaving Umkhokha? No publicly available information indicates that He is leaving the show. He portrays Siphamandla Mthembu in the series.
Nay Maps is definitely a multi-talented individual. He has found success as a singer, actor, model, and entrepreneur. His prolific portrayal of Mxolisi Mdletshe in Uzalo has played a particularly pivotal role in his success in the TV industry.
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Source: Briefly News
Lynn Kandie Lynn Kandie is a reporter with 5 years of experience in writing. Before joining the team in 2018, Lynn wrote for Kenyan media platforms and several other websites. She graduated from the University of Nairobi in 2019 with honours after pursuing a BSc. in Meteorology. She is currently studying for a Master's degree in the same field. Lynn specialises in writing celebrity biographies, listicles and teasers for popular TV shows. Contacts; +254707596322, lynnkandie27@gmail.com
Jackline Wangare (Lifestyle writer) Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Briefly.co.za, where she has worked since mid-2021. She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University. She has more than five years in writing. Jackline graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2019) and a Diploma in Marketing (2015) from Kenyatta University. In 2023, Jackline finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024. Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.
