Born on August 30, 1942, Bonisile John Kani is a South African actor, author, director, and playwright. He is known for his striking role as T’Chaka he played in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther.

John Kani was recently honored with the distinguished Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his outstanding contributions to the world of arts and culture. He earned this prestigious award for his extraordinary career, which has been defined by his extraordinary talent and dedication to advancing diversity in the arts.

With noteworthy performances that have permanently impacted audiences all over the world, Kani has had a decades-long influence in the theatrical and film industries. He has distinguished himself as a forerunner in the field with his dedication to breaking down cultural barriers and using the arts as a platform for social change.

The OBE is proof of his influence on the international scene as well as in his native South Africa.

”When you get the call that on the list presented to you to King Charles III, your name has been confirmed, you think, alright, my God, this is good, this is great, actually, but then you pretend that maybe it’s just another award,” Kani stated.

Kani has won various honors in addition to the OBE, such as the Order of Ikhamanga Silver for his contributions to theater during the fight for a non-racial, non-sexist, and democratic South Africa and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the South African Film and Television Awards.

Kain also placed the character Rafiki in the 2019 remake of The Lion King and Colonel Ulenga in the Netflix film Murder Mystery (2019). The seasoned performer has been one of South Africa’s most well-known performers, writers, directors, and playwrights for nearly 60 years.