Linda Sokhulu reflects on creativity, social media pressures and grief in a heartfelt chat on 'The Relebogile Mabotja' podcast

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a day ago

Linda Sokhulu.
Image: Instagram.
In a recent episode of "The Relebogile Mabotja" podcast, respected Mzansi actress Linda Sokhulu opened up about the complex dynamics of the creative industry, the pressures of social media and her journey in navigating grief.
Sokhulu tends to be lowkey, so fans were extremely excited to listen to this particular interview.
@MokwenaDD wrote in the comments section: "Linda Sokhulu NEVER does any interviews. I wonder how Relebogile pulled this one off. Whatever it is Relebogile did to get Linda to agree to this interview, thank you both for this opportunity to watch Linda talk about her experience in the industry. I can get used to watching her do interviews …
"However, the fact that she never does interviews unless she is promoting a show makes this interview all the more great. Thank you, ladies."
Delving straight into it, Sokhulu highlighted the relationship between artists and their work, using a metaphor of love to detail the highs and lows that come with creativity.
"From one project to another, we are in relationships with our work, and sometimes it is a beautiful lover and sometimes it's an abusive lover," she said.
She continued: "When it's a beautiful lover, it feeds you, you feel healthy, you bouncing off walls with joy. If it's a toxic relationship, it's like 'What have I do? Who am I? Why is this not working in my favour?' It can either be a functional relationship or it can be a dysfunctional relationship.
"The common factor in all of them is you. If you're in a relationship that is not making sense to you as a person, then you must ask yourself why are you still there, similarly, if you are a creative in an environment that's not feeding you creatively and you feel like it's a famine creativity, ask yourself, 'Why am I still there?'
"Go back to self and see what it is that is either making this Ferrari run or breaking it down."
The "Generations" actress delved further into the craft of acting, revealing the vulnerability that comes with stepping into diverse roles.
She expressed frustration over the growing blurring of boundaries between different professions, particularly between actors and social media influencers.
"There are times when I will deliberately look for an actor that I have such great respect for, and then I'll see that they have less followers than a person who is an influencer.
"It's not to say that the influencer, based on doing influencing work, should not have the followers that they have, and that's not to say that the actor shouldn't have the followers that they have. For me, it says that they are two completely different jobs.
"I think it is unfortunate when a person who cares about a craft, but doesn't have the propensity to outrightly advertise life, is then seen as a lesser artist because they are not willing to do exposés. I think it's sad.
"There are people who don't know where to start because their personality, their being, their soul just doesn't resonate ...
"When a person has got a higher ranking in influence and marketing, versus a person that's got a skill and a craft, and they are being pitted against each other for what this one actually understands as a lifeblood, and they fall short, I think that's sad."
On a more personal note, Sokhulu opened up about the impact of loss in her life, revealing her experience following the passing of her father.
"I think the only thing you can do is acknowledge that they mattered and matter. They left an imprint that can't be replaced by any other person. I remember this happening when my mom passed away. I was like, 'I'm actually breathing for the first time without my mother breathing the same air'.
"I know it sounds weird, but my existence, my ability to stay alive, I am doing this, and the person that brought me into this world is no longer doing it.
"Then I thought about it again with my father. It's never easy to have someone leave, and the number of conversations that you will inevitably go through with them in your head, that you will never have with them.
"I don't even know what to say about it. I think I'm just figuring it out, but you get up and there is still something to do and you carry on."
Watch the full podcast below.