Women’s empowerment group, Umngqungqo Wentokazi (UW), held a birthday bash for celebrated South African actress Connie Chiume at the The Spade Botique Hotel in Khayelitsha recently.
UW chairperson, Angie Da Queen Dlokweni, said the event was two-pronged in that it served to celebrate Connie’s 70th birthday and launch their 2023 business trip to Atlanta in the USA.
“Connie is our patron and she supports the kind of work we do in empowering women. In July she will be part of our tour as we visit our African-American counterparts with a view to learning from them and teaching them our ways of doing things,” said Ms Dlokweni.
Business and life mentor, Carol Lourel, a guest speaker hailed Connie’s acting career success and urged other women to follow on her footsteps. “We must take a leaf out her life story. It was certainly not an easy walk but she is an inspiration,” she said.
The veteran actress was recently honoured with a lifetime achievement at the Safta award ceremony. The seasoned actress is also set to receive a Hollywood African Prestigious Award in the US on October 29.
The Gomora star said she has been blessed and these awards and celebrations were a pat on her back.
“It means a lot to me as an actress to see my work taken seriously globally. This is a second award I am getting from overseas,” she said.
Connie said she thankful to all women who attended her party in Khayelitsha and vowed to work with UW in their efforts of “empowering each other”.