Khanyisile Mbau (born October 15, 1985), known professionally as Khanyi Mbau, is a South African actress, television host and artist. Raised in Soweto, Mbau rose to widespread prominence and became a household name as the second Doobsie in the SABC 2 soap opera Muvhango (2004-2005); as Mbali in the SABC 1 soap opera Mzansi and SABC 1’s mini-series After Nine. As of 2018, she is the host of the entertainment show The Scoop, The Big Secret on BET Africa and plays Tshidi on Mzansi Magic’s Abomama.
Khanyo Mbau Family
Khanyisile Mbau was born at Florence Nightingale Hospital in Hillbrow, Johannesburg on the evening of October 15, 1985. Her mother, Lynette Sisi Mbau, worked in the finance department of the pension fund at Barclays Bank. Mbau’s father Menzi Mcunu was not married to her mother at the time as the couple was only dating. Mcunu had no claim to the child but he named her nevertheless: Khanyisile, one who brings light. Mbau kept her mother’s surname. Lynette soon left baby Khanyi with her parents in Mofolo, Soweto and returned to work leaving her grandmother virtually raising her.
Mbau’s grandparents were very Western in the way they dressed and saw the world. Mbau said, “Gladys (her grandmother) would cane you if you broke the rules. She ran her household with the decorum and attention to detail of Buckingham Palace”. Mbau lovingly referred to her as the “Queen of England”. Mbau attended a white-only crèche called Flock on Eloff Street in downtown Johannesburg.
She also has a young brother Lasizwe Dambuza who is a television and radio personality and an actor.
Khanyi Mbau Boyfriend
Khanyi Mbau and Tebogo Lerole started dating in July 2014 and they are still together amidst rumours claiming that the pair is pretending to be together.
Khanyi Mbau Acting Career
She rose to fame in 2005 when she replaced Lindiwe Chibi as Doobsie on SABC 2’s Muvhango, ( Lindiwe Chibi was shot and critically injured at the time). Her stay was short lived as she was fired on the show allegedly for partying too much and negative publicity. It is also alleged that she was fired for leaving while the show was filming for the Middle East.
In 2006 she was a cast member for the second season of SABC 1 drama series ‘Mzansi. She replaced Lerato Moloisane who played the character of ‘Mbali’ in the first season. Although the show was not renewed for the third season, she was fired allegedly for being absent without leave.
In 2006 she made a guest appearance on the TV drama ‘The Lab’. In 2008 she made an appearance during the third season of ‘The Lab’. In 2007, she was a cast member of SABC 1 drama ‘After 9’ as Zee.
In 2008 she was cast as led in the South African film, Kabelo’s Fortune, and was later fired for not showing up on set.
In 2011 she was a member of the third season of the reality show ‘Tropical Island’ which took place in Phuket, Thailand and was hosted by DJ Fresh and Lalla Hirayama. In 2012 she was the guest judge of the second season of ‘Turn It Ouut’ that aired on SABC 1.
In 2013 she starred in an episode of e.tv’s anthology drama series, Ekasi. She was featured on DStv’s Mzansi Magic mini-series Like Father Like Son as Sindisiwe Sibeko.She also starred on e.tv’s anthology drama series, Mzansi Love: Ekasi Style as Kgomotso.
She guest starred on SABC 2’s sitcom Skwizas, she starred in the Vuzu TV satirical comedy Check-Coast as Lerato Moloi ad starred as Lebo Kgosi in an episode of on e.tv’s anthology drama series, Mzansi Love: Big City Love.
In 2014,she was featured in the seventh season of Strictly Come Dancing South Africa.She was eliminated on week 7 when her with her partner, Quintus Jansen, failed to earn enough votes. In March 2015 she joined the cast of a e.tv telenovela, Ashes to Ashes as ‘Pinki’
Khanyi Mbau on Radio
In 2016, Mbau landed a radio show on Metro FM as the host of Whose show is it anyway alongside entertainers Somizi Mhlongo and Ntombi Ngcobo; the show premiered nationally on July 18, 2016 for a year until it came to an end in the reshuffle of the station.
Khanyi Mbau Net worth
Mbau has an estimated net worth of around $10 million which she has earned through her career.
Khanyi Mbau Songs
- Igwinya – 2010
- Shake – 2016
- Ubobalela – 2010
- Izondo – 2010
- La ‘Weyi – 2010
- Sthandwa Sami – 2010
- Dunusa – 2010
- I Miss You – 2010
- Red Shoes – 2010
- Skheshekheshe – 2010
- Cina – 2010
- Do Me – 2010
- Crazy – 2010
- Intro – 2010
- Happiness – 2010
- Again – 2012
- Slay – 2016
- Shake – 2016
Khanyi Mbau MoviesM
- Hear Me Move (2015)
- Happiness is a Four-letter Word (2016)
- She is King (2017)
- The Red Room (2018)
- Frank and Fearless (2018)
Khanyi Mbau Television Roles
- Uzalo – 2018
- The Big Secret – 2017 – 2018
- The Scoop – 2017 – 2018
- South African Music Awards – 2017
- Lip Sync Battle Africa – 2017
- The Weekend Edition – 2016 – 2017
- Umlilo – 2016
- Katch It With Khanyi – 2014 – 2016
- After 9 – 2007
- Ashes to Ashes – 2015
- aYeYe – 2015
- Check – Coast – 2014
- eKasi: Our Stories – 2013 – 2014
- I Am – 2013
- Like Father Like Son – 2013
- Muvhango – 2004 – 2005
- My perfect family – 2014 – 2015
- Mzansi – 2005 – 2006
- Mzansi Love – 2013 – 2014
- Mzansi Love – 2014
- Scandal – 2005
- Reality Check – 2013
- Skwizas – 2014 – 2015
- Strictly Come Dancing – 2014
- The close up eNCA – 2014
- Comedy Central Roast – 2014
- The Lab – 2006
- South African Film and Television Awards – 2014
- Tropika Island of Treasure – 2011
- Turn it Out – 2012