Veteran actor Sello Maake KaNcube is reflecting on how profoundly his portrayal of Archie Moroka — the suave, corporate heir from the long-running soap Generations — has endured in South African popular memory, even decades after he left the show. As he prepares to reprise the role briefly at the upcoming iPendoring Awards 2025, he says the depth of Archie’s imprint only became apparent well after his exit.
Archie: More Than Just a Role
During a recent interview with The Citizen, KaNcube admitted he was “shocked” by how many viewers had internalized Archie as more than a fictional character — using his real name interchangeably. He said he never anticipated that the character would resonate so deeply and personally with the public.
Archie Moroka’s influence was amplified by his dynamic on-screen partnership with Connie Ferguson’s Karabo Moroka — a pair that many still recall as one of the most iconic duos in local television history.
But beyond entertainment value, the character carried symbolic weight. Archie — inspired by advertising pioneer Peter Vundla — represented black success in corporate spaces at a time when such representation was rare. For many South Africans, it was the first time they saw people who looked like them occupying positions of influence in business. “It is where people saw black people in the corporate space for the first time,” KaNcube reflected.
A Comeback for a Cause: iPendoring Awards 2025
From 2 to 4 December 2025, the iPendoring Awards will bring together creatives, students, cultural leaders, and industry insiders for a robust celebration of South Africa’s indigenous languages — highlighting how these mother tongues remain central to cultural identity and storytelling.
As part of the 30th-anniversary festivities, KaNcube will briefly don Archie’s mantle once again, bringing the character’s gravitas to the iPendoring stage.
He described the moment as deeply meaningful — not only because of Archie’s legacy, but also because the event underscores the power of language and culture. “The way we use African languages… we’re using them as a synonym,” he noted, lamenting the fact that many actors are now trained out of their mother tongues. He argued that this erodes the richness and authenticity of South African storytelling.
Celebrating a Career of Excellence
KaNcube’s contributions to South African arts have recently been formally recognised. On 22 November 2025, he received the National Film & TV Awards 2025 Outstanding Contribution Award — one among the top honours of the night.
At the ceremony, the audience’s standing ovation spoke to a career of decades-long influence. In his acceptance, KaNcube urged young actors to stay courageous and committed to their craft, insisting that emerging talent has the power to transform storytelling in South Africa.
For him the honor was deeply reflective — it triggered memories of his early days in community theatre, kindling the spark that has driven him for over 50 years.
Legacy, Language, and the Future
For KaNcube, Archie Moroka is more than just a role — he’s a symbol of possibility. The fact that generations call him by that name reminds us just how powerful representation on-screen can be. And while the iPendoring Awards will bring him back as Archie for one night, contemporaries and fans alike will no doubt celebrate the deeper significance: that creative art, spoken in indigenous languages, can help reclaim identity, transform culture, and inspire future generations.
KaNcube’s journey — from a young boy in Soweto watching his first play, to becoming a national icon — shows how stories can transcend screens, shaping not just entertainment, but hearts and minds.
