Siya, rising from predominance
Siyabonga Blessing Ntuli famously known as Siya Ntuli was born Bronkhorstspruit and bred in Mpumalanga Kwa Mhlanga.
He started acting when he was 8 years since then he was forced to pursue his dream. 2021 he was urged to build up his own production with his friends Nhlakanipho Tshabalala and Thabang Malaza. He had to get his hands real dirty to build a team from scratch.
At the height of his career, Actor Siya Ntuli laid his struggles bare in his scripts, touching the souls of thousands of fans in the process.
As he rose to fame, his struggle with addiction took a stronger hold on him. In his final years, Siya Ntuli openly discussed his efforts to quit and do better mentally, often sobering up for a while before relapsing shortly after.
Just months before, Siya Ntuli had gone off lean, only to relapse twice, the second time ending his life.
Two years after his healing, Siya Ntuli remains one of the best content creators of his generation around Bronkhorstspruit.
To older generations, Siya Ntuli may represent modern-day teen angst, but as he aptly put it, he wishes that his short films that talk about being depressed and suicidal can be somewhat comforting to younger listeners, as it makes them feel less alone in their struggles.
Siya Ntuli openness with his mental illness with depression, body dysmorphia, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts can be viewed as one of the many reasons why 37% of artist’s are getting therapy, more than any other generation.
“I remember when I started hearing people criticize me after I had put on some weight. I was 19,” he said in an interview with Thabang Malaza
he further said that the comments upset him but one day, he took it upon himself not to feel sorry about himself, prompting him to write his short film “Ubizo short film” (available on YouTube in Thabang Malaza channel.
In a recent interview, Nhlakanipho Tshabalala also opened about his journey of being the cycle breaker in their family’s struggle with generational trauma. He also mentioned that being a human, it’s important to begin his healing and to teach his family self-care while still honoring his family.
