Manqoba Khumalo: Biography, Actor, Career

Manqoba Khumalo is a South African actor and voice-over artist. He gained national attention in early 2026 after landing the role of Junior Nkosi, also known as DJ M’Jay, in the e.tv drama series Emzini: A Family Legacy.

Biography: Manqoba Khumalo

Real Name: Manqoba Khumalo

Place of Birth: Mpuluzi, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Occupation: Actor, Voice-over Artist Digital Creator

Years Active: 2024 - Present

Known For: Emzini: A Family Legacy

Languages: isiSwati, isiZulu, and English

Nationality: South African

Early Life and Education

Manqoba Mntungwa Khumalo was born in eMbelebeleni at Luve in the Kingdom of Eswatini. He was raised in Mbelebeleni and also in Mhlambanyatsi, a small town in Mbabane in Eswatini. Here he began his basic education journey by attending Usutu Forest Primary School. After several years, his parents relocated to Manzini in where he continued with his primary education at Khanyisile Primary School.

Career of Manqaba Khumalo

Acting Career

Before his television breakthrough, Khumalo built experience through several acting productions linked to the African Academy of Cinematic Arts (AACA). In 2024, he played a lead role in Flight To Madness, a production developed through the academy. In the same year, he also starred as a lead actor in May I?, another AACA production.

After graduating from the academy, in 2025 he starred as the lead in a Spotify Africa: Khuphuka Nathi commercial. Then later that very same year, he had a campaign for CHARGED energy drink.

Khumalo’s breakthrough came in 2026 when he joined Emzini: A Family Legacy as Junior Nkosi, also known as DJ M’Jay. His character is a spoiled and carefree youngest son of the wealthy Nkosi family who loves music and DJing. Again the very same year in May, he starred in Mzansi Magic short film titled Masibe Umndeni.

Other Works of Manqoba Khumalo

Manqoba is a podcaster who runs a YouTube channel podcast Under the F’ing Sun. The show serves as an informative dialogue where youth-centric topics are discussed from a fresh perspective. He is also a voice over artist who aspires who to work with brands back at home in Eswatini.

“I want to do work in Eswatini as well, acting, voice-over and media related work with interested companies,” he explains to Times of Eswatini publication.

On top of acting and other skills, Manqoba is also an aspiring radio host.

Advocating for Artists’ Rights

Manqoba believes the rights of actors and basic support need to be prioritized. Instead of concentrating only on internal activities, he thinks the Eswatini government should do more to promote the arts on a world stage. The lack of legislative assistance for artists employed overseas is his main worry. Khumalo talks about the “difficult and indifferent legal procedures” that come with attempting to obtain visas and work permits in nearby nations.

“To put it frankly, it has been made nearly impossible to get fair legal visas with sustainable durations recognised by Southern African governments for artists/actors to work in countries outside their own,” he states to Times of Eswatini publication.

He also said he is not the only one who is experiencing this challenge. He met other actors in South Africa who are facing similar challenges.

Personal Life

His background has build him to be fluent in isiSwati, isiZulu, and English.