LOCAL actor and producer, Menzi Mkhwane has once again been nominated for the prestigious Naledi Awards. 

This year he has been nominated in categories of Best Breakthrough Performance, as well as being nominated with co-author Sabelo Ndlovu for Best Production of a Play for ‘Pockets of Knowledge’ produced by Soweto Theatre.

The awards will take place later on this year as the country is still under lockdown but Mkhwane said last week that he is excited and humbled to be sharing the spotlight with some of the top theatre practitioners in the country.

“He believes that even if he doesn’t win, the acknowledgement is enough,” said co-founder of Namalandi Creativity, Mehrunnissa Mullah.

“By this nomination alone he has flown the KZN flag and has made many local artists proud. Menzi is a Durban-based independent producer, published writer, actor and director,” said Mullah.

Mkhwane and Mullah are co-owners of Namalandi Creativity, which aims to create work in the theatre business and in the South African context for creatives in and around Durban to provide jobs for unemployed yet highly talented youth struggling to break into the main stream.  The collaboration also seeks to revive the culture of theatre and create, in the Durban community, a sense of awareness of art in theatre and its role in entertainment and cultural development.

Decade of work

“Over the past 10 years he has been steadily building his profile as a highly influential figure among young artists. He has also established himself as a consistent, reliable, talented brand in his own right and the awards he has attained attest to this,” said  Mullah. 

Menzi’s first Naledi award was won for Best Breakthrough Performance and he has been nominated for a second time alongside Anele Nene whom he directed in the piece as he put it together for the run in Soweto. The production is co-created by Sabelo Ndlovu and Menzi Mkhwane.

On winning his first award Menzi said: “It set the path for my national profile because I had not been recognised outside my province. I was surprised that I won and I know how tough it is to even get nominated so I am so pleased and humbled to be nominated a second time.”

“Without the extremely creative genius behind Sabelo Ndlovu’s thinking this production would have never received the recognition it deserves. It took the work of both our minds to fully realise that script and it is a very timeless story that seems to touch everyone who watches it,” said Menzi acknowledging the co-writer of the play.

Putting KZN in the limelight

Mullah said she feels that this nomination proves that KZN productions, as well the artists who create them, are strong enough to be recognised on bigger platforms in around South Africa

“Many times the talent that leaves KZN never comes back and becomes Johannesburg talent and this is what we are trying to change with our company,” she said commenting on the work that Namalandi Creativity  is doing in KZN.

Both Mkhwane and Mullah aim to not only get more actors recognised but to be inspired to achieve great heights. They also hope that these KZN artists achieve more.

“Winning an award is just the beginning,” said Mkhwane commenting on the honour.

“We want artists who join Namalandi Creativity to inspire and develop their own productions and become responsible for creating opportunities for themselves,” added Mehrunnissa.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3024249164261757&set=a.193292597357442&type=3

Lockdown entertainment

Meanwhile, enjoy Namalandi Creativity’s #LockdownEntertainment via its various social media platforms, including videos like the one below which the team put together to help educate people about advice given by WHO to combat the spread of Covid-19.

Namalandi Creativity can be found on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. To find out how you can get involved in the work email namalandicreativity@gmail.com or contact Mullah on WhatsApp on 073 616 6766.

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