Mthokozisi Ncube
SHE is only 22, but Bulawayo actress and content creator Linet Ngulube, popularly known as Netty Nkanyezi, is already making big moves in the city’s entertainment scene after scoring a double nomination at the 2026 Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAAs).
The rising star is in the running for Outstanding Film/TV Actress for her role in Amacala Reloaded and Newcomer of the Year (All Genres) in the content creation category.
For Netty, the double nomination is more than just recognition — it is a major confidence boost in a year she describes as her breakthrough in both acting and content creation.
She said the recognition caught her by surprise, especially as she had only recently started building her profile as a content creator.
“I was extremely happy. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting it at all. This was my breakthrough year as a content creator and as a film actor, so I was telling myself, ‘If I work harder, maybe next year I will get nominated.’ To get two nominations in the same year when I was just starting felt like God saying, ‘You’re on the right track, keep going’,” she said.
Netty’s acting journey dates back to 2017, when she was in Form One at Nketa High School. She later sharpened her skills through training at Langelisha Arts, Centre for Talent Development and Geraldine Roche Arts Academy.
Her film career gathered momentum with her debut in Choices, a production by Amplifying Girls’ Voices, before she landed a lead role in Amacala Reloaded.
She got the role after impressing the casting team during auditions with a monologue.
But stepping into the character was no walk in the park. She had to take over a role previously played by an actress who had already won the audience’s affection.
“The hardest part was that I was replacing a character who was exceptional. Everyone already loved her. So I had to be careful not to try and copy her or replicate her performance. I had to find my own way to play the character while still respecting what she had already built. That pressure pushed me to work harder,” she said.
Away from the cameras, Netty has been winning hearts online with her Ndebele-language monologues, which have struck a chord with audiences.
She started posting on TikTok in July before opening her Facebook page in August. Her platforms have reportedly grown to 140 000 followers on Facebook and 23 000 on TikTok.
She said the turning point came when she and her anonymous director decided to move from English to Ndebele content.
“At first we were doing them in English. Then one day we decided to try them in Ndebele, and that’s when everything changed. People started resonating with the monologues, they started sharing them, and that’s when we blew up,” she said.
But there is more to her content than laughs and entertainment. Netty wants to use her growing online following to bring social issues closer to the community.
Having participated in workshops, stage performances, films and advocacy initiatives, she felt that much of the work was not reaching enough people. She therefore decided to create her own platform, using entertainment to highlight issues affecting everyday life.
“I believed that one day people would follow my page, and I could put advocacy work into my content, and people would understand it better. So my content is inspired by real life, real issues and the things our community goes through,” she said.
Despite enjoying both acting and content creation, she says the latter can be more demanding because it requires a constant flow of fresh ideas and the discipline to keep posting.
“Content creation is the most difficult one, because you have to be creative every single day. With film, it’s easier in a way because the script and preparation are already there — my job is to act and go. But with content, I have to come up with the idea, shoot it and keep showing up consistently,” she said.
Netty said limited opportunities remained one of the biggest challenges facing creatives in Bulawayo, despite the city having plenty of talent.
Instead of waiting for platforms to open up, she chose to create her own space through digital content.
She credits her growing audience and fellow creatives for helping her find her feet, saying the shares, comments and encouragement from followers have helped popularise her Ndebele monologues.
For the young actress, the double nomination is proof that emerging creatives can earn recognition by staying consistent and creating their own opportunities.
She now has her sights set on bigger productions, including opportunities on international streaming platforms such as Netflix, while taking Bulawayo stories to wider audiences.
Her ambitions go beyond personal success. Netty dreams of establishing arts institutions in marginalised communities, where aspiring creatives often struggle to access opportunities.
Her long-term goal is to use her experience to nurture the next generation of actors and content creators, ensuring that young talent has platforms on which to develop and showcase its abilities.
