Celebrities are often associated with extravagant lifestyles, lavish parties, and flashy possessions. However, many of them have humble beginnings and face obstacles on their journey to stardom. Kay Sibiya, the former Uzalo actor, is a prime example of this.
When Sibiya first arrived in Johannesburg in 2012 to pursue his passion for acting, he had very little to his name. He recounted that he worked various jobs, including as a waiter, model, booking agent, and bank teller, before making the decision to spend his savings on a bus ticket to the city, leaving him with only R50 in his pocket. Upon his arrival, Sibiya found himself without a place to stay and had to squat in different locations, moving nine times within the first year.
“I lost a lot of money in shares and I used the remainder of it to buy a bus ticket to Johannesburg,” he told the local publication.After buying the ticket, I was left with only R50 to my name.I had to squat all over the place. I moved nine times in under a year,” he recalled.
Sibiya’s big break came when he was announced as the presenter of the first season of SABC 1’s music show, Sunday Chillaz, alongside Kedibone Mkhabela. This exposure soon led to his role as Ayanda Mdletshe, a church devotee, in the popular South African drama series, Uzalo. From there, Sibiya’s career continued to soar, with him appearing in other prominent dramas, such as Imbewu, and even taking on the additional hustle of becoming a DJ.
Though many celebrities have ventured into DJing, Kay Sibiya is unfazed by joining their ranks, aspiring to distinguish himself in the music industry as an afro tech and afro house DJ. In an interview with TshisaLIVE, the actor reminisced about his initial foray into DJing during his trip to KwaZulu-Natal to shoot Imbewu: The Seed.
“Acting will always be a part of my life and still is. I was away from my partner and the kids, I was bored half the time after set and needed a new hobby so I bought some equipment and used it to de-stress after work,” he said.
Sibiya’s story is a testament to the resilience and determination required to succeed in the entertainment industry. Despite facing financial and housing challenges at the outset, he persevered and ultimately achieved the level of success and recognition that now defines his career. His journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring actors and performers, showcasing that with hard work and dedication, even those from humble beginnings can rise to the heights of stardom.