‘If it doesn't feel authentic, I don't do it,' Lawrence Maleka on his career journey
We caught up with actor Lawrence Maleka.
His role in The River won the hearts of many South Africans.
He has since hosted shows like Big Brother and many high profile events.
He is now set to host Friends of Amstel: The Challenge.
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He captivated fans in The River, then light up Netflix in Lobola Man, a refreshing and humorous take that reimages the traditions of lobola in a modern world.
Now, as Friends of Amstel returns for its highly anticipated second season, we catch up with Lawrence Maleka to dive into everything he's been up to since we last spoke, from career highlights to creative evolution.
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Stepping into the world of Friends of Amstel: The Challenge
'I think the biggest thing about is that it's more about community than anything else. Everything else is just an excuse for everyone to hang out with one another. Once you start watching the show and get engulfed in it, you're there for the personalities,' he shares excitedly.
Lawrence returns to host the second season of Friends of Amstel: The Challenge, premiering 14 June 2025, on eTV. The show features prominent South African music stars like DJ Tira, Makhadzi and Nasty C, alongside DJs LKG and Lamiez Holworthy.
This South African reality competition where musicians and fans battle with their friends in music and friendship challenges. It's an opportunity for viewers to get to see a different side of the celebrities they look up to.
'I think Friends of Amstel brings South Africans into a world where everybody is having fun and we're just competing against each other. This format of the show is definitely one that South Africans resonate with, seeing that it's back by popular demand.'
Lawrence notes that it will be an energetic celebration of South African music culture, friendship bonds and entertainment with unpredictable twists and exciting personalities.
Reflections on previous projects
The actor is no stranger to delivering powerful performances, and his portrayal of Ace Ngubeni in Lobola Man stands out as one of the highlights of his career.
'As people, as Africans, as South Africans, we have a rich culture and history that sets us apart from the rest of the world. This is one of those customs and traditions that we engage in – the bringing of two families together, breaking bread, and celebration of ancestry,' he shares.
When he was first called for the show, he thought he could do it and it was a no brainer for him.
READ MORE | Colleagues bid Lawrence Maleka farewell as he closes his chapter on The River - 'Thank you for giving us Zolani'
With the director Tamang Mulea and Kat Reti from Burnt Onion Productions, their reunion as people who worked together when they were much younger was something he enjoyed.
The actor says he has been blessed to work with industry peers and people he considers friends. Even as he only agrees to scripts he feels a particular connection to, he's had moments where he was able to feed off other actors in the their acting spaces.
A message he sends to the younger version of himself
'Well done. It's going to be a very rough road. It's going to be a very challenging road. You've done well in picking the individuals you want around you. You've done well in making the hard choices early. And everything you're going through right now is temporary.'
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