01/04/2025
Gcina Mhlophe, South African gem, celebrated storyteller, multi-talented artist and award-winning author is offering a weekend retreat entitled “The Power of Ancestral Wisdoms Through Storytelling” at the BRC from 4-6 April 2025.
The operative word in Gcina's work is sharing. In the fast world we now live in, now more than ever before, we need to hear ourselves and each other, in calm, serene spaces. Gcina truly believes that every living person has a story to tell. That is why she is humbled in the knowledge that each time she tells a story, she wakes up stories in other people. Together we will not only embrace the natural beauty of the environment, the undulating Ixopo hills, the blue skies above and the fresh air we breathe - we will delve deep into our memory banks.
Dr Gcina Mhlophe is a versatile and multi-talented artist who has left an indelible mark on the literary and performance arts in South Africa and beyond. From her early childhood, she was captivated by her grandmother's storytelling, which sparked her love for the spoken and written word. She has since become an award-winning author, poet, playwright, director, and performer, showcasing her talent on some of the world's most prestigious stages.
In addition to her artistic contributions, Gcina has also been a champion for literacy in South Africa, running the NOZINCWADI Mother of Books Literacy Campaign since 2001. Her efforts have been recognized with numerous honorary doctorates and awards, including the National ICON Award from MZANSI MAGIC TV Channel and the Kennedy Centre International Artists Gold Award.
Gcina's works have been widely celebrated, and she has released several CDs, including Songs & Stories of Africa, which won a SAMA award. She has also collaborated with other artists to produce projects that promote African culture, such as the IMILOLOZELO CD, which seeks to resuscitate the culture of African children's rhymes and rhythms with jazz music.
In the theatre world, Gcina has received critical acclaim for her performances, winning an OBIE Award in New York for her role in Born in the RSA. Her autobiographical play, Have You Seen Zandile? has also earned her several awards, including the Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Festival, the Sony Award for Radio Drama from BBC Africa, and the Joseph Jefferson Award in Chicago.
Gcina has founded and directed various storytelling companies, including the Zanendaba storytelling company in Johannesburg, which has helped to preserve the heritage of African storytelling. Her contributions to literature and the arts have been recognized with honorary doctorates from prestigious institutions such as the London Open University, University of KwaZulu – Natal, Pretoria University, and Fort Hare.
Overall, Gcina Mhlophe's talent, passion, and dedication to her craft and the promotion of African culture have earned her a well-deserved place among the most celebrated artists in South Africa and the world. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations of artists and performers.
Her latest accolade is the Inaugural USIBA Cultural Legend Award from the Minister of Arts and Culture in May 2018.
24 October – Dr Mhlophe’s birthday shall be recognized as NATIONAL STORYTELLING DAY celebrated all over South Africa.
Please email [email protected] to reserve your space.
