We caught up with Queen Modjadji’s breakout star Masutang Rasekele, whose performance as Dzugudini, the king’s youngest daughter, has viewers abuzz with a mix of excitement, curiosity, and empathy. From preferring leftover pap and eggs for breakfast to being on a journey to reacquaint herself with her Balobedu roots, Masutang is as authentic as they come. To quell viewers’ curiosity, Masutang answered some questions about her life below.
Queen Modjadji, a prime time drama series detailing the life and times of the legendary rainmaking Queen Modjadji, airs every Sunday at 20:00 on Mzansi Magic Channel 161.
What does your name mean?
Masutang (or Mmasutdani as I prefer to spell it), means "make way for me". I was born on 24 May 1998, the same day on which my great grandmother passed on. My family believed that she made way for me to arrive safely in this lifetime.
What is the correct spelling of your name?
So, there is the Home Affairs version, which is spelt Masutang. "Mmasutdani" is just me trying to reclaim the real spelling of my name, especially because Khelovedu is not an official language in South Africa. The latter spelling captures the true sound of my name.
What Khelovedu word or phrase do you overuse?
There are certain things that I look at daily and think: “Lenyana matjawani”, meaning “it could never be me!”. Not a day goes by without me using this phrase [chuckles].
Briefly tell us about yourself?
I was born in Edenvale, Johannesburg. Shortly after I was born, my parents got divorced and mom shipped me back home to my grandmother so she could continue working as a domestic worker. I was raised by my grandmother and aunt, who is like my second mother. Even though I lacked certain privileges growing up, I had the warmest upbringing in a female-dominated household. I grew up with my siblings – my oldest brother, Ashton, my second brother Mohale (who is now late), and my baby sister Nthabiseng. As a child, I was the designated entertainer in our home, something I possibly inherited from my mother and grandmother.
What do you love about Queen Modjadji?
I love everything about it, it is my home. But most of all, I love what Queen Modjadji is likely to do in the history of filmmaking in South Africa. I love the conversations the series is about to spark, not just from a creative perspective, but a historical one too. More than anything, it is the first TV production where I made my debut as an actress, a writer, as well as a language and cultural advisor.
What else do you do outside of Queen Modjadji?
I have mostly been busy with content creation. I write a lot – I am a poet. I am currently on a journey to write in Khelovedu, but most of it is my opinion since there currently isn’t a standard for the language. I am also involved with the Khebhebhe Centre for the Arts, a project aimed at giving back to communities through offering acting lessons, and sharing information about the film and television industries, writing and behind-the-scenes workshopping for those who are interested. We do not have any such initiatives back home where I come from in Polasene, a small village in Bolobedu, northeast of Polokwane.
How has your life changed since Queen Modjadji started?
Eight months ago, I was an aspiring writer. Today, I am an actor and a writer. I am so proud of my achievements because those are the results of putting in the work and never giving up on myself. I cannot help but think back to all of those small gigs I took on, those TikToks that I made, the monologues that I posted, the workshops that I attended – all those efforts combined prepared me for this big moment. It is also comforting to see my family happy that I am finally living my dream and flourishing at it.
What was the last book that you read?
The Orchestra Minorities by Chigozie Obioma. I started reading it late last year but [am] halfway to completing it. Queen Modjadji happened, and I just could not bring myself to finish it. Earlier this year, in between writing and deadlines, I would take moments to read. In fact, it used to help me destress.
How did you end up in TV?
I did not study acting, it was a calling! When I was young, my mom was adamant that I would go to drama school. And I found it odd that she knew about drama school when she had not finished high school. As I grew older, the reality of my impoverished background hit me and it just did not make sense for me to study drama. So I started off studying Biomedicine at MGI, then dropped out the following year to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Law at the University of Pretoria. I am still pursuing that journey, it is not done or forgotten. And throughout my academic journey, I was involved in one creative/artistic initiative or another. In high school, I was heavily involved in the arts. At the University of Pretoria, I was part of a cultural ensemble called UP/Ovuwa. We would curate African music, and African theatre performances, and I would attend a lot of acting/creative workshops during my spare time. When I joined TikTok, the aim was to start my cultural advocacy journey. I was on a journey to discover myself through my Bolobedu background. Then I found myself also adding my other talents such as acting, poetry, and music. Then, one thing led to another and now I am here. I came highly recommended by Queen Modjadji’s cultural and language advisor Moses Rasekele, whom I am not related to, by the way [chuckles].
What is your go-to breakfast?
Oh, molatša (leftover pap) with hot eggs. The eggs must be extremely well done, please! [chuckles]
What makes you smile the most?
My mom. She is funny and can literally find a beautiful moment out of anything. I am also just so proud of how she worked her way out of being a domestic worker to a security guard and now works behind-the-scenes in top management at a security company. In general, my family knows how to elevate my mood.
Missed any episodes of Queen Modjadji? Catch up on all episodes so far on DStv Stream here. Viewers can join in the conversation by using the hashtag #QueenModjadjiMzansi on social media on Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.