Siv Ngesi
Ngesi in 2019
Born	Sivuyile Ngesi (1985-10-18)18 October 1985 (age 40) Gugulethu, Western Cape, South Africa
Other names	Sivanna
Occupation(s)	Actor, comedian, presenter, producer
Years active	1997–present
Website	iamsiv.com

Sivuyile Ngesi (born 28 October 1985) is a South African actor, comedian, presenter, and producer.

Ngesi was born to a Xhosa family of four children inGugulethu in the east ofCape Town. He spent his early childhood there before moving toLanga and laterPinelands.^[1] His mother Jacqueline is a school principal.^[2] He lost his father to a car accident in 2004.^[3] Ngesi attendedPinelands High School^[4] and trained at the Waterfront Theatre School andJazzart Dance Theatre. He explained during the#FeesMustFall movement that he was unable to afford university.^[5]

Ngesi began his career as a child actor, playingGavroche inLes Misérables on tour in Asia. He also performed a piece from the musical forNelson Mandela.^{[citation needed]}

Ngesi made his television debut in theDisney Channel Original MovieZenon: Z3 as Bobby and his feature film debut inThe World Unseen. He guest starred as Thomas in24: Redemption, a 2008 television film sequel to theFox action series24, and had a small role in theNelson Mandela andFrancois Pienaar biopicInvictus.^{[citation needed]}

Ngesi embarked on a one-man comedy showDeKaf, which ran for three years at theNational Arts Festival and won the Golden Ovation Award for Best Comedy at the 2010 festival. He then took the show on a national tour.^[6]

Ngesi starred oppositeRob van Vuuren in the 2012 crime comedy filmCopposites.^[7] He, van Vuuren, and Danielle Bischoff created the children's book series Florence & Watson as well as it accompanying stage show.

In 2014, Ngesi competed alongside dance partner Marcella Solimeo in the seventh season ofStrictly Come Dancing, placing fifth in the competition that year.

Ngesi has hosted the magazine showThe Man Cave since 2015, winning one out two nominations for Best TV Presenter at theSouth African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs). In 2016, he began hosting and producing the reality cooking competition showJou Ma se Chef. He had a recurring role as Udo in the third season of theStarz historical adventure seriesBlack Sails.

Ngesi produced 14 shows at the 2017National Arts Festival, taking home a Spirit of the Fringe award for his contributions to the festival that year.^[8] Among his shows that year wasSiv-ilised.^[9]

In 2019, Ngesi appeared in three films:Knuckle City, which became South Africa'sAcademy Award submission in theBest International Feature Film category;Bhai's Cafe, a Bollywood-style musical; and the Afrikaans romantic comedyKaalgat Karel.^[10] The following year, Ngesi joined the cast of theShowmax dramaStill Breathing as the character T-Boss.

Ngesi created and began performing under the drag persona Sivanna in 2021. The name is a portmanteau of the cider drink Savanna and the Xhosa word Siyavana.^[11] He hosted the Cape Town Drag Brunch that December.^[12]

Ngesi joined theShowmax comedyTali's Baby Diary for its second season as well as theNetflix dramaJiva. His recurring role as Victor inDam, also on Showmax, earned him his first acting nomination at the 2022SAFTAs for Best Supporting Actor, having received nods for his presenting work in the past.^[13]

It was revealed in January 2022 that Ngesi had joined the cast of the upcomingGina Prince-Bythewood-directed andViola Davis-produced filmThe Woman King.^[14]

• Siv Ngesi atIMDb
• Siv Ngesi at TVSA

• Living people
• 1985 births
• South African drag queens
• South African male child actors
• South African male comedians
• South African male musical theatre actors
• South African radio presenters
• South African television personalities
• Male actors from Cape Town
• Xhosa people
• South African comedians

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