The South African humanitarian and award-winning actress is set to star alongside Tom Cruise in the final instalment of Mission: Impossible next year. YourLuxury Africa had the privilege of speaking with Nomzamo as she stepped into the role of host for Earthshot Prize Week 2024.
YLA: How did you get into humanitarianism?
Nomzamo Mbatha: As a young girl, I was often told that I was a bit of a drama queen who would more than likely end up on the stage. I studied B Com Accounting but entered the entertainment industry to financially support my family. Deep down, however, I’ve always had the urge to use my voice to be of service, to stand up to something much bigger than myself. So, I did the work and that’s where these incredible organisations like The Earthshot Prize found me – on the ground or in the field – doing the work.
What are your humanitarian goals?
To be someone who can shine a light on issues such as the refugee situation on the African continent, to change the narrative and drive it forward. Displacement is no longer the photographic image of a little boy with a fly on his face; it’s about skilled people and entrepreneurs who have lost everything because of conflict or the effects of global issues like climate change.
How is glamour a gateway to fulfilling these goals?
Glamour draws people in and educates them about what we’re facing – even if they don’t want to face it. It’s the way a message is conveyed that makes all the difference. The Earthshot Prize money (a million pounds is awarded to each of the five winners) is just the surface – it is so much deeper than that. It’s about mentorship, innovation, networking, communities and bridging gaps between those who need and those who can, and I am learning from them every day.
Talk to us about sustainable luxury in Africa.
This is an ongoing conversation and to be honest, I am constantly learning more about it. To me, however, Afro-luxury is no longer negotiable; it’s appreciating the craftsmanship of a garment, discovering where it was sourced and the stories it carries with it. There is no scale or large numbers – and that is the actual luxury.
Your advice to future youth programme leaders
If I can step up on the stage and be bold in who I am, I know there is a flame flickering through someone else that’s sitting there who will feel they can do it too. You may need a cup and a half of resilience and a whole lot of grit, but if you’re authentic, you can do it.
All about that dress:
Nomzamo’s Earthshot Prize dress was nothing less than extraordinary. A lab-grown dress in “Solar Citrine” created by 2023 Earthshot Prize finalists Colorifix and Ghanaian designer Christie Brown. The dress was dyed using biological DNA pigments grown in bacteria and needed less water, energy and no toxic chemicals. As Nomzamo said, “Sustainable luxury doesn’t have to exclude glamour.”
