Ama Qamata

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Amamkele Qamata
Qamata on Plus TV Africa in 2020
Born
Amamkele Lithemba Qamata

(1998-09-02) 2 September 1998 (age 25)
Cala, Eastern Cape, South Africa
EducationUniversity of Cape Town
OccupationActress
Years active2015–present
AwardsS.A style awards, 2020

Amamkele Lithemba Qamata (born 2 September 1998) is a South African actress. She is best known for her roles as Buhle Ndaba in the Mzansi Magic series Gomora and Puleng Khumalo in the hit Netflix series Blood & Water.[1]

Early life and education[edit]

Qamata was born in the Eastern Cape village of Cala in the Sakhisizwe Local Municipality. She moved to Johannesburg with her family at the age of three.[2]

Qamata discovered acting through a school productions and first appeared on screen in advertisements.[3] She is an alumna of Reddam House Bedfordview; after passing her matriculation in 2016, she took a gap year.[3] She enrolled at the University of Cape Town for a Theatre and Performance degree, but withdrew from the institution during her second year.[3]

Career[edit]

Aged 17, Qamata made her television acting debut as Naledi in the situation comedy My Perfect Family on SABC1.[3]

In 2020 she was in the cast of Gomora,[4] as the character of Buhle in the Mzansi Magic series.[5][6]

Later that year she appeared in Netflix's Blood & Water. Qamata's character, Puleng, has a sister who was abducted at birth, and Puleng is trying to prove that a successful swimmer from a private school is in fact her sister.[7] Kutlwano Ditsele, the casting director for Blood & Water, was executive producer on Gomora and invited Qamata to audition, which she did successfully.[3]

Qamata has also had roles in Rhythm City and Commandos: The Mission.[4] Qamata is set to star in Matthew Leutwyler's upcoming sports film Fight Like a Girl alongside Hakeem Kae-Kazim.[8]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2016 My Perfect Family Naledi Recurring role [3]
2018 Rhythm City Thandi Recurring role [4]
2020–2022 Gomora Nobuhle Ndaba Main role [4]
2020–present Blood & Water Puleng Khumalo Main role [1]

Accolades[edit]

Year Award Category Work Result Ref
2020 S.A Style Awards The Next Big Thing Herself Won
2020 Séries Brasil Awards Revelação Do Ano Blood & Water [9]
2023 The Future Awards Africa Prize for Acting Herself Pending [10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b La Jeunesse, Marilyn (10 June 2020). "Ama Qamata speaks about her leading role on Blood & Water". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  2. ^ Puckett, Lauren (22 June 2020). "Ama Qamata Knows Exactly What Blood And Water Should Do Next". Elle. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Tyekana, Phila. "All the way up". True Love. South Africa: 24.com. pp. 46–47. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via PressReader.
  4. ^ a b c d Malonde, Zamandulo (3 June 2020). "Eastern Cape's Ama Qamata revels in success of hit series". The Herald. Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via NewsBank.
  5. ^ Mazibuko, Nonkulueko (18 June 2020). "Ama Qamata is the talk of the town". Move!. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via PressReader.
  6. ^ "Inside Ama Qamata's journey to fame". Drum. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via PressReader.
  7. ^ "A bond that goes beyond the screen". The Sunday Independent. 14 June 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020 – via PressReader.
  8. ^ Roxborough, Scott (20 December 2022). "'Blood and Water' Star Ama Qamata to Play Boxer in 'Fight Like a Girl'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Ama Qamata bags first international nod". IOL. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  10. ^ "FULL LIST: Asake, Tobi Amusan, Osimhen nominated for TFAA 2023". TheCable Lifestyle. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2023.

External links[edit]