ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi wˈʌn, hiː wʌz ˈæskt tʊ ɔːdˈɪʃən fɚðə ɹˈoʊl ʌvðə zˈuːluː wˈɔːɹɪɚ kˈɪŋ ʃˈɑːkə kˈɑː sˌɛnzɐŋɡɐkhˈoʊnə ˌɔn stˈeɪdʒ fɚɹə pɹədˈʌkʃən ðæt plˈeɪd fɚɹə jˈɪɹ.
In 1981, he was asked to audition for the role of the Zulu Warrior King Shaka kaSenzangakhona on stage for a production that played for a year.