Ayakha “Aya” Ntunja is a young South African actress, dancer, and performer best known for playing Amo Mosweu in the Showmax teen drama Youngins and Qhawekazi Mabandla in the Mzansi Magic telenovela Inimba. Born in Gqeberha and trained at the National School of the Arts, she has quickly grown into one of Mzansi’s most-watched rising stars on television, film, and social media.
Ayakha Ntunja Biography
| Field | Details |
| Full name | Ayakha Ntunja |
| Nickname | Aya |
| Gender | Female |
| Year of birth | 2003/2004 |
| Age | 22 years old (as of May 2026) |
| Place of birth | Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape, South Africa |
| Current residence | Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa |
| Nationality | South African |
| Ethnicity | Black (Xhosa) |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexual orientation | Straight |
| Height | Approximately 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Weight | Around 55 kg (121 lbs) |
| Body measurements | Approximately 32-25-34 inches |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Marital status | Single |
| Boyfriend | None publicly confirmed |
| Children | None |
| Siblings | One sister and one brother |
| Alma mater | National School of the Arts (NSA) |
| Profession | Actress, dancer, performer |
| Years active | 2016–present |
| Agency | Africa Creative Agency |
| @ayakha.ntunja (185K followers) | |
| TikTok | @ayakhantunja (164.2K followers) |
| Net worth | Estimated $80,000–$150,000 |
Who is Ayakha Ntunja?
Ayakha Ntunja is a gifted South African actress who has captured Mzansi viewers with her natural screen presence and emotional range.
She rose to prominence playing Thembi in MTV Shuga: Down South before landing her first leading role as Amo in Youngins.
Her current work on Inimba has cemented her place among the most promising young performers in South African television.
How old is Ayakha Ntunja? Age and birthday
Ayakha is 22 years old as of May 2026. She was born in 2003/2004 in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, with most public sources placing her birth year as 2004.
She spent her earliest childhood in the Eastern Cape before her family relocated to Johannesburg when she was six.
Family background
Aya is the middle child of three siblings, with one older sister and one younger brother. Her parents raised the family in Gqeberha before moving north so that the children could access better schooling and creative training in Gauteng. She often credits her mother for shaping her work ethic and discipline.
Ayakha Ntunja’s height, weight, and body measurements
Aya stands approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall (around 170 cm) and weighs an estimated 55 kg (121 lbs). Her body measurements are approximately 32-25-34 inches.
She has a slim, athletic frame shaped by years of swimming and ballet during her primary and high school years.
Education
Ntunja attended primary school in Johannesburg and joined the National School of the Arts (NSA) in grade 10. She matriculated in 2021 with a Bachelor pass average, balancing strong academics with intense performance training in drama, dance, and choreography.
While at NSA, she picked up the FEDA Acting Award in 2019, followed by the Best Performer: Full Colors award in 2020. The same year, she also won Best Choreographer and Best Dancer, and served as Programs Director at the Unspoken Words Theatre Factory.
Career
Aya started in theatre in 2016, sharpening her writing and directing skills before stepping into front-of-camera work.
Her television debut came in 2021 when she played Dudu in the Showmax drama Pearls of Wisdom, produced by Eccentric Circus Productions.
She followed up with roles in NTASH (2021) on Showmax, Ubizo Lakhe (2022), and Ke Bona Spoko (2022) on Mzansi Magic. She also appeared in the coming-of-age film Mimo wa Lerato in 2022.
Breakthrough on MTV Shuga
In 2023, Aya played Thembi in season three of MTV Shuga: Down South, sharing the screen with rising stars like Chidera Nwoha, Palesa Mothopi, and Zazi Kunene. The role placed her firmly on the radar of casting directors across the continent.
Lead role in Youngins
In 2024, she landed her first lead role as Amo Mosweu in the Showmax teen series Youngins. Amo is a determined girl from rural KwaZulu-Natal whose worldview shifts when she joins the elite Olifantsfontein High School. The show has run into multiple seasons and remains one of Showmax’s most-streamed local titles.
Inimba and Loved Out
In 2025, Aya joined the cast of the Mzansi Magic telenovela Inimba as Qhawekazi Mabandla, a 20-year-old IT and software engineering graduate caught in a tug-of-war between feuding adults.
The same year, she made her feature film debut as Vazu in Loved Out, which opened in South African cinemas on 26 September 2025.
Awards and recognition
Aya was nominated as Most Promising Female Movie Star of the Year at the Africa Choice Awards 2025, adding to her earlier school-level honours from NSA. Industry publications have repeatedly named her among Mzansi’s brightest young performers to watch.
What is Ayakha Ntunja’s net worth and salary?
As of 2026, Ayakha Ntunja’s net worth is estimated at between $80,000 and $150,000 (roughly R1.5 million to R2.8 million).
Her primary income source is acting fees from Showmax’s Youngins, Mzansi Magic’s Inimba, and the feature film Loved Out.
Income sources
Beyond television and film fees, Aya earns from brand campaigns, magazine cover shoots, and event appearances. Her growing social media following has also opened the door to paid promotional posts and ambassadorial deals with South African lifestyle and beauty brands. Specific salary figures have not been publicly disclosed.
Is Ayakha Ntunja married? Boyfriend, dating history, and relationship status
Ayakha is not married and has not publicly confirmed a boyfriend. She has described herself in interviews as an introvert who enjoys reading, writing, and quiet learning, and she keeps her romantic life away from the spotlight. There are no credible reports of past public relationships, an engagement, or children.
Social media presence
As of May 2026, Aya has about 185K followers on Instagram (@ayakha.ntunja) and 164.2K followers on TikTok (@ayakhantunja), where her videos have racked up more than 643K likes.
She mostly shares fashion shoots, behind-the-scenes clips from her shows, and short personal updates about her acting journey.
Fast facts about Ayakha Ntunja
- She was born in Gqeberha but considers Johannesburg her home, having moved at age six.
- She trained as a competitive swimmer and ballet dancer before pivoting to drama.
- A friend dragged her to her first theatre audition in grade 8 — she has been hooked ever since.
- She matriculated from the National School of the Arts in 2021 with a Bachelor pass.
- She won the FEDA Acting Award in 2019 and the Best Performer: Full Colors prize in 2020.
- Her first paid acting job was voice work at Pearl Wonderz Entertainment.
- She made her TV debut as Dudu in Showmax’s Pearls of Wisdom in 2021.
- Youngins (2024) marked her first lead television role.
- She was nominated for Most Promising Female Movie Star at the Africa Choice Awards 2025.
- She is signed to Africa Creative Agency for film and television work.
Read more: Somkhanda Gumbi Age, height, wives, children, net worth, career
Wrapping up
Ayakha Ntunja’s path from a sporty Gqeberha child to one of Mzansi’s brightest young screen talents shows what disciplined training and clear ambition can achieve.
With Youngins, Inimba, and Loved Out on her résumé before turning 23, plus a steadily growing social media community, Aya is well placed to define the next wave of South African screen storytelling over the rest of the decade.
References
- Briefly News. “Meet Ayakha Ntunja, the actress who plays Amo in Youngins”.
- Youth Village. “10 Interesting Facts About Inimba’s Ayakha Ntunja (Qhawekazi Mabandla)”.
- Africa Creative Agency. “Ayakha Ntunja Talent Profile”.
- News24 TrueLove. “Ayakha Ntunja – Young, ambitious and unstoppable”.
- IMDb. “Ayakha Ntunja”.
- Sowetan S Mag. “An incandescent star: Ayakha Ntunja”.
- TshisaLIVE. “Ayakha Ntunja chats about landing her first lead role on Showmax’s Youngins”.
Disclaimer: Everything you read on The Celebs Magazine is collected from trusted public sources. We do our best to bring you correct and updated information, but please remember that celebrity details can change anytime. If you spot something that needs an update, kindly contact us at info@thecelebsmagazine.com. Your feedback helps us improve!
