Biography: Xolani Ncobeni is a South African actor, singer-songwriter, stage performer, dialogue coach, language advisor and TV personality. He is best known for his role as Uncle Dan on the famous soap opera Scandal! on e.tv. He has also appeared in shows such as Uzalo, Durban Gen, and Moja.
Early Life
Xolani Ncobeni was born on 16 December 1977 in Clermont, a small township in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. He grew up with an artistic background and moved to Johannesburg in 1999 to pursue a music career. He specialised in the Maskandi music genre, a traditional Zulu style of music that blends folk, blues, and jazz elements.
Xolani Ncobeni Career
Xolani Ncobeni started acting in 1997 when he toured New York and Canada with a theatre production by the late playwright Welcome Msomi.
In 1998, Xolani started his dance career with legendary maskandi musician Mfiliseni. The following year, he joined Ihhashi Elimhlophe as a dancer, hitting the road to Portugal and Germany. In 2004, he started dancing for the late Lebo Mathosa, eventually trying his hand at songwriting.
While dancing for Lebo, Xolani pitched in with songwriting, penning tracks like “Awudede” and “Ngi Fun’ukugana. He also wrote songs for Mshoza and teamed up with Thembi Seete before returning to the theatre scene. Xolani has also danced for Ihhashi Elimhlophe.
ALSO READ: Thembi Seete Biography| Age, Early Life, Career, Filmography, Personal Life
In 2014, he appeared in the short film Champagne, directed by Thabang Moleya. The following year, he joined Uzalo as Officer Mdunge. He then landed a role in the comedy show Judge Thenjiwe Khambule in 2018, where he played a court clerk.
Xolani Ncobeni Biography [Image: @xolanincobeni/Instagram]
From 2017 to 2019, Xolani danced for Big Zulu, performing at his gigs until he switched to the e.tv series Isipho.
ALSO READ: Big Zulu Biography | Age, Career, Awards, Personal Life
In 2023, Xolani joined the cast of Scandal!. He plays a greedy and cunning Uncle Dan, seeking to snatch and sell a house inherited by his nephew, Cee-Jay.
Xolani has acted in Uzalo, Moja, Mbogeni, The Price Of Njabulo, Mashonisa, The Long Way Home, Mathabo, Yebo Mesisi, Rented Family and Durban.
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Xolani Ncobeni Personal Life
Xolani Ncobeni Biography [Image: @xolanincobeni/Instagram]
Xolani Ncobeni is often mistaken for Sibonelo Nxumalo, another actor who bears a striking resemblance to him. The two actors have stated that they are unrelated but have joked about starring in a movie together as siblings.
He has not disclosed his marital status, but some sources suggest that he has at least two children, a son and a daughter.
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