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.
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.