Cynthia Erivo Speaks Xhosa Ahead of Miriam Makeba Biopic, Mzansi Reacts

Published 25 Aug 2026 at 2:22 PM

by Jessica Gcaba

3 min read

Cynthia Erivo showed off her Xhosa click sounds during a recent interview, leaving South Africans with mixed feelings
The British actress was cast to play the late South African icon Miriam Makeba in an upcoming Lifetime movie
Erivo previously shared a TikTok in January 2026 of herself singing Pata Pata, revealing how long she has been preparing for the role

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Cynthia Erivo was cast as Miriam Makeba. — Cynthia Erivo spoke Xhosa as she channels her inner Miriam Makeba. Image: Ebet Roberts/Redferns/Karwai Tang
Source: Getty Images

Cynthia Erivo is doing her homework — and Mzansi is paying close attention. The British Hollywood star sat down for a recent interview, filmed on a colourful, geometric-backdrop stage, where she revealed the lengths she has gone to in preparing to portray the legendary Miriam Makeba on screen.

Speaking animatedly from her seat at the Library of Congress 2026 National Book Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre on 22 August in Washington, DC, Erivo described her experience learning Xhosa during a trip to South Africa.

Erivo's long road to becoming Makeba

In the clip shared by @_messo_, Cynthia showed off her Xhosa-speaking abilities, having mastered the click sound.

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"I just came back from South Africa, and I had to learn Xhosa, and it was when you learn the cue that nothing feels so great to make the sound. It's like it's learning those languages," she said, gesturing enthusiastically as she spoke about mastering the notoriously tricky click consonants.

This is not the first glimpse the public has had of Erivo's preparation. Back on 11 January 2026, she posted a TikTok video of herself singing along to Pata Pata, one of Makeba's most beloved hits, hinting at how deeply she has been immersing herself in the icon's musical legacy.

The casting choice has sparked significant debate in South Africa, with many questioning why a non-South African actress was chosen to portray one of the country's most treasured cultural figures. Makeba, affectionately known as Mama Africa, remains a deeply personal symbol of South African pride, which makes the stakes for this biopic extraordinarily high.

Mzansi divided over the casting

South Africans flooded the comments with a wide range of opinions. Some were genuinely impressed, while others remained cautious or outright critical.

@SyntaxSavvyy wrote:

"That click sounded so perfect, better than any Tswana-speaking person in South Africa😭"

@teeBhelekazi kept it short and sweet:

"She's incredible"

@naxike99762 was cautiously hopeful:

"I have a feeling she's gonna kill. I hope I won't hear 'amandala'"

@soniek17 was hilariously confused:

"Baby, that's DJ ZInhle😭🙌🏾"

@VuyelwaMdlalos1 tempered the excitement with a reality check:

"It's not just about clicks; she has to get the accent right as well.🙄"

@ZuuuV12 chose to see the positive side:

"Well, at least she's trying, unlike the Wakanda actors"

@NdumiRed raised an alternative:

"Was Jennifer Hudson not available?"

@azikiwe_ldr seemed genuinely taken aback:

"How did she learn that click? That's very difficult, by the way."

Miriam Makeba's house causes debate

Briefly News previously reported that Miriam Makeba's house has now become a hub of alleged substance abuse, 16 years after her passing.