It is not far-fetched that Africans are survivors in all endeavors of life. Across the nooks and crannies of the world, Africa descents are successfully reckoning recognition, courtesy of their thirst for learning and hunger to to excel.
To the Australia continent, Africans are not lagging behind in the quest for exploits and excellence. In this light, here are five (5) notable African-Australians putting up an impressive narrative for Africa and the global space of entertainment.
Rick Cosnett
Richard James Cosnett is a Zimbabwean-Australian actor. He is popular for playing the roles of Wes Maxfield in “The Vampire Diaries.”
Born in 1983, Cosnett was raised on a farm in Chegutu, Zimbabwe. His family took part in community musical theater there, which made him interested in acting from an early age. When he was 17 years old, his family decided to move to Queensland, Australia, in large part due to the land reforms in Zimbabwe.
Being a scholarship recipient, Cosnett holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Acting. He has starred in movies like “Happily Never After,” “El Mirado,” and many more.
Dean Geyer
Dean Stanley Geyer is a South African singer and actor. He was placed third in the 2006 season of the “Australian Idol” talent show television series and has had a notable role in the Australian soap opera “Neighbors.”
He joined the cast of the US show “Glee” in the fourth season as NYADA Junior Brody Weston and appeared in “Terra Nova” as Mark Reynolds.
Born in 1986 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Geyer’s passion for music started burning early in his childhood. He learned to play the guitar, and wrote his first song entitled “Change” which was based on his move from South Africa to Australia.
In July 2011, Geyer made his American television debut on the VH1 Drama television series “Single Ladies.” In 2012, Geyer maintained a major-recurring role on the Fox Network Steven Spielberg produced science fiction drama television series “Terra Nova.”
Bert La Bonté
Bert La Bonté is a Mauritian-Australian actor. La Bonté grew up in Melbourne’s southeastern suburbs with his parents and two older sisters. His parents migrated from Mauritius in the late 1960s. He discovered a passion for acting at age 9, when he played Fagin in his school production of “Oliver.”
At 17 La Bonté enrolled in performing arts at the University of Ballarat.
His extensive theatre credits include “Rupert,” “Birdland”, “Richard III”, “The Female of the Species”, and “I Am a Miracle”.
Also, his film and television credits include “Animal Kingdom,” “Rats and Cats,” and “My Life is Murder.”
La Bonté received the Helpmann Award and Sydney Theater Award for Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical in 2012 for his performance in “An Officer and a Gentleman.”
Keiynan Lonsdale
Keiynan Lonsdale is a Nigerian-Australian actor, dancer, and singer. He is prominent for starring in movies, such as Oliver Lloyd on the ABC series “Dance Academy,” “Legends of Tomorrow,” “The Divergent Series: Insurgent,” “The Divergent Series: Allegiant,” and “Love, Simon.”
He has also worked as an MTV VJ, and released original music recordings.
Lonsdale was born in Sydney to a Nigerian father of Edo descent and an Australian mother of Irish and Danish descent.
He won the 2018 MTV Movie and TV Awards in the Best Kiss category shared with Nick Robinson.
Pacharo Mzembe
Pacharo Mzembe is a Malawian-Australian actor with majors in Theatre, Film & Television.
Born in Zimbabwe, Mzembe migrated to Australia at age 6 to the sunshine state of Queensland. He is a proud alumnus of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) accepted at the age of 17. He briefly suspended his acting career in the summer of 2012 to embark on a staggering run across Australia titled the Run Of Awareness. The run was founded by Pacharo to highlight the inequality of educational opportunities for disadvantaged youths in Australia & around the world.
His theatrical highlights include the portrayal of Dr Martin Luther King Jr in the award winning “The Mountaintop” and adrenaline pumping ”Prize Fighter” wherein he was awarded a “Green Room Award” & nominated for the “Sydney Theatre” & “Helpmann Awards” for his portrayal of an ex-child soldier turned boxing contender. Outside of acting Pacharo is extremely passionate about youth empowerment, filmmaking and encouraging individuals to “Be Unafraid”.
He won the 2019 Green Room Award Theatre Companies Performer.
