--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I did 'Sizwe Bansi is Dead' for 34 years." description: "\"I did 'Sizwe Bansi is Dead' for 34 years.\" — John Kani" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/john-kani-7300_dead_i-did-sizwe-bansi-is-dead-for-34-years-1_1433824.jpg" --- # I did 'Sizwe Bansi is Dead' for 34 years. ![“I did 'Sizwe Bansi is Dead' for 34 years.” quote by John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/john-kani-7300_dead_i-did-sizwe-bansi-is-dead-for-34-years-1_1433824.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/john-kani-7300_dead_i-did-sizwe-bansi-is-dead-for-34-years-1_1433824.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/john-kani-7300_dead_i-did-sizwe-bansi-is-dead-for-34-years-1_1433824.jpg) > “I did 'Sizwe Bansi is Dead' for 34 years.” [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The actor spent decades embodying a character, reflecting deep personal and cultural connections to the role. **In simple terms:** Decades spent playing a role. Key Takeaway Value long‑term artistic commitment. Themes theatre identity culture career Mood reflective nostalgic Type artistic personal When to use this quote - career reflection - cultural education - performance analysis Key Concepts Method acting postcolonial narrative legacy building Questions to Reflect On - What does this role mean to you now? - How does it shape your identity? A Different Perspective Roles can typecast and limit future opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [34 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/34-years-1230273/) [Bansi Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bansi-dead-5111979/) [Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) [Dead 34](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-34-5111980/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [We are living on average today 34 years longer than our great-grandparents did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/we-are-living-on-average-today-34-years-longer-than-our-great/) [Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/) > [You know what? At this point in my career, at this point in my life... I'm 34 years old; I don't have time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ne-yo/you-know-what-at-this-point-in-my-career-at-this-point-in-my-life-i-m/) [Ne-Yo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ne-yo/) > [I'm 34 years old, but I still feel like I'm progressing as an athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-assuncao/i-m-34-years-old-but-i-still-feel-like-i-m-progressing-as-an-athlete/) [Raphael Assuncao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-assuncao/) > [I'm not as hard on myself anymore. I'm comfortable exactly where I am, though it took me until I was 34 years old! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-mccarthy/i-m-not-as-hard-on-myself-anymore-i-m-comfortable-exactly-where-i-am/) [Jenny McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-mccarthy/) > [I'm very boring. I'm a mom. I'm 34 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/i-m-very-boring-i-m-a-mom-i-m-34-years-old/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [I think when you've been a career politician for 34 years you have to run on your record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/i-think-when-you-ve-been-a-career-politician-for-34-years-you-have-to/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I've been married nearly 34 years, I'm not perfect, I've made mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-condit/i-ve-been-married-nearly-34-years-i-m-not-perfect-i-ve-made-mistakes/) [Gary Condit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-condit/) > [My mom passed away when she was 34 years old... And I think in addition to I have to be really good if I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/my-mom-passed-away-when-she-was-34-years-old-and-i-think-in-addition/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [Pep Guardiola is like going to university. I spent a year with him at City, learning something new every day. On the playing field,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willy-caballero/pep-guardiola-is-like-going-to-university-i-spent-a-year-with-him-at/) [Willy Caballero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willy-caballero/) > [When Eric Clapton cut 'After Midnight,' he sold so many records and it was so big at the time, I decided that I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-cale/when-eric-clapton-cut-after-midnight-he-sold-so-many-records-and-it/) [J. J. Cale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-cale/) > [I was 34 years old, and I knew that I wanted a possibility of having a family one day, but I wasn't dating anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-marquardt/i-was-34-years-old-and-i-knew-that-i-wanted-a-possibility-of-having-a/) [Bridget Marquardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-marquardt/) > [After 34 years, I feel like I did when I was starting out. I feel excited and feel I've never been better doing what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-anderson/after-34-years-i-feel-like-i-did-when-i-was-starting-out-i-feel/) [Louie Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-anderson/) > [ I didn't want to go there \[America\] at 34 years old and for people to say he's only going for the money. It's not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/i-didn-t-want-to-go-there-america-at-34-years-old-and-for-people-to/) [David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/) > [I'd say that I've been reclusive the last 34 years. That was my big thing as a kid, staying home from school. I've trained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fiona-apple/i-d-say-that-i-ve-been-reclusive-the-last-34-years-that-was-my-big/) [Fiona Apple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fiona-apple/) > [Tiger Woods was a month away from 34 years of age when his debutantes began turning up in the news. He was a grown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-jenkins/tiger-woods-was-a-month-away-from-34-years-of-age-when-his-debutantes/) [Dan Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-jenkins/) ## More by John Kani > [All over the world, there is someone sitting in a cell because he or she is not allowed freedom of expression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/all-over-the-world-there-is-someone-sitting-in-a-cell-because-he-or/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [I'm Dad at home, not John Kani.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/i-m-dad-at-home-not-john-kani/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [I always say my first break was a dead man's break.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/i-always-say-my-first-break-was-a-dead-man-s-break/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [I still remember the moment when my teacher, Mr. Budaza, walked into class and said, 'Today we are going to study 'Julius Caesar,' one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/i-still-remember-the-moment-when-my-teacher-mr-budaza-walked-into/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [I have never been attracted to television work. Even to appear in series and soapies. I have always appeared in theatre and major movies,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/i-have-never-been-attracted-to-television-work-even-to-appear-in/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [I spent 51 years under apartheid. I don't imagine suffering. I know it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/i-spent-51-years-under-apartheid-i-don-t-imagine-suffering-i-know-it/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [Working with my friend Sir Antony Sher is truly one of the highlights of my career as an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/working-with-my-friend-sir-antony-sher-is-truly-one-of-the-highlights/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [In Australia, I almost became a counsellor. At the end of each performance there would be a queue of sobbing people backstage. They all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/in-australia-i-almost-became-a-counsellor-at-the-end-of-each/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [What does Macbeth want? What does Shakespeare want? What does Othello want? What does James want? What does Arthur Miller want when he wrote?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/what-does-macbeth-want-what-does-shakespeare-want-what-does-othello/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [In 'Lion King,' the music is brilliant. The CGI is amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/in-lion-king-the-music-is-brilliant-the-cgi-is-amazing/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [Every time there is a movie that tells a South African story, it is done by someone who must be taught the right way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/every-time-there-is-a-movie-that-tells-a-south-african-story-it-is/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [In South Africa, it is different. When you are born not even your father knows what is going to happen in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/in-south-africa-it-is-different-when-you-are-born-not-even-your/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [I'd read Shakespeare in school, translated into isiXhosa, and loved the stories, but I hadn't realised before I started reading the English text how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/i-d-read-shakespeare-in-school-translated-into-isixhosa-and-loved-the/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [We are sort of not at the level of entertainment that the Western world is. Everything we see on the play in the screen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/we-are-sort-of-not-at-the-level-of-entertainment-that-the-western/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) > [We haven't got those dreams: 'I wish to become doctor or a lawyer.' Black people in South Africa have been barred in doing anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/we-haven-t-got-those-dreams-i-wish-to-become-doctor-or-a-lawyer-black/) [John Kani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) [Explore all 92 John Kani quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/) ## More Dead quotes > [I'm going to stay on stage until I drop dead. Then I'm going to have myself stuffed, like Trigger, and I'm going to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-reynolds/i-m-going-to-stay-on-stage-until-i-drop-dead-then-i-m-going-to-have/) [Debbie Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-reynolds/) > [I can't be a legend yet. I'm not dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-can-t-be-a-legend-yet-i-m-not-dead/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I’m just–” She wanted to say “not in the mood,” but that was not only a cliché but a vast understatement. She was dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcintosh/i-m-just-she-wanted-to-say-not-in-the-mood-but-that-was-not-only-a/) [Will McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcintosh/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [When we dead awaken ... we see that we have never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/when-we-dead-awaken-we-see-that-we-have-never-lived/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [He was obviously dead. But since he was a vampire that wasn't as hopless a thing as it might have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-was-obviously-dead-but-since-he-was-a-vampire-that-wasn-t-as/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > ['Misery' left a lasting mark on me. When I die, it will be 'Kathy 'Misery' Bates Is Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/misery-left-a-lasting-mark-on-me-when-i-die-it-will-be-kathy-misery/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [The only good Indian is a dead Indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/the-only-good-indian-is-a-dead-indian/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) [Browse all 3,376 Dead quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I did 'Sizwe Bansi is Dead' for 34 years.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Kani" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/i-did-sizwe-bansi-is-dead-for-34-years/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dead" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/i-did-sizwe-bansi-is-dead-for-34-years/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/john-kani-7300_dead_i-did-sizwe-bansi-is-dead-for-34-years-1_1433824.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/john-kani-7300_dead_i-did-sizwe-bansi-is-dead-for-34-years-1_1433824.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bcb/john-kani-7300_dead_i-did-sizwe-bansi-is-dead-for-34-years-1_1433824.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I did 'Sizwe Bansi is Dead' for 34 years.” — John Kani", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Kani", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kani/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I did 'Sizwe Bansi is Dead'...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/i-did-sizwe-bansi-is-dead-for-34-years/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kani/i-did-sizwe-bansi-is-dead-for-34-years/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```