Tembisa’s female theatre activist remembered
Tembisa's internationally acclaimed actress, dancer, writer, director and leader, Julia Nkosi of Mangweni section passed away on October 18 after a long illness.
According to Tembisa’s creating arts director, Oupa Malajie, the 35-year-old Julia started involving herself in performing arts in the mid-1990s when working with Tembisa Cultural Group led by Simon Phatha Magagula, where her talent was realised.
She then worked with Volkswagen Music Active’s Production “Wanna Be, Gonna Be” and performed at the Market Theatre.
Julia, a former student of Ikusasa High School was one of the founding members of the well-known Rutanang Community Theatre Project led by local theatre guru, Mr Lucky Kgafela.
She gained international popularity when she joined Soweto Youth Drama Society led by the late theatre veteran Mr Peter Ngwenya and together with other local artists such as Oupa Malatjie, Bheki Mbanjwa and Zandile Hlatshwayo she toured Netherlands and Germany with the play “Ha Mokoena”.
The legandary actress died while working with the Xtreme Youth Projects, a theatre organisation she co-founded.
Julia dedicated her last days on earth by coordinating the Tembisa Secondary School’s Arts Festival that took place at Moses Molelekwa Art Centre last month.
She was also a part of the After 12 Short Film produced by a local film maker that will be screened on DTSV’s MzansiMagic, MzansiWethu and MzanziBioskop.
“Tembisans and the arts industry at large lost a female theatre activist while our province is on a mission to empower women to take the lead in the arts industry. Therefore Tembisa Performing Arts Network would like to pass its condolences to members of the family, friends and all those affected by the sudden death of Julia Nkosi,” said Mr Malatjie.
The funeral service will be held at 778 Mangweni section in Tembisa from 8am to 11am on Saturday.
For more information, people can contact Oupa Malatjie at 083 486 6790 or Zimele Ndlovu at 072 626 3157.
