KwaZulu-Natal is a new powerhouse in global storytelling

IOL News

6 days ago

KwaZulu-Natal is no longer just the setting for other people's stories - it is now the source.
Driven by a rising generation of homegrown writers, directors, and actors, the province is exporting talent and stories that are grounded in local identity but resonate across global audiences.
These creatives are not waiting for permission - they are claiming space, shiftingthe centre, and telling stories that pulse with Zulu heritage, Indian identity, exile,womanhood, and unshakeable resilience.
What was once a province on the margins is now a powerhouse - producing work that is winning awards, opening international festivals, and redefining what South African cinema looks and sounds like.
KwaZulu-Natal - which celebrates film month in July - has produced severalcelebrated creatives who've made their mark far beyond provincial boundaries.
Nosipho Dumisa, from Margate, earned widespread recognition directing andproducing Nommer 37 (2018) and the Netflix series Blood & Water, launching local talent onto global platforms.
KZN based documentary filmmaker and cinematographer, Nicole Schafer, directed Buddha in Africa (2019), which won Best South African Documentary atthe Durban International Film Festival and was put forward as an Oscar contender.
Veteran documentarian Xoliswa Sithole - though raised mainly in Zimbabwe - has strong KZN roots and earned a Peabody Award (2010) and BAFTA (2011) for Zimbabwe's Forgotten Children reinforcing KZN's reputation in global documentary storytelling.
Durban-born Kajal Bagwandeen, is a versatile actress, presenter,and dancer, known for roles in Impunity, 3 Days to Go, 7de Laan, and Isidingo.
Meanwhile, Dawn Thandeka King, from Eshowe, became a household name asMaNgcobo in Uzalo, winning a SAFTA and a KZN Entertainment Award.
These creatives exemplify how the province's talent thrives at national and international levels - as directors, cinematographers, producers, and performers - solidifying the province's impact on global screen culture.
Acclaimed actor Melusi Yeni, famous for his roles in Generations and Sokhulu and Partners
Image: Supplied
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For veteran actor Melusi Yeni, the spark came early-right in the heart of Durban.'Growing up in KZN, I had the opportunity to see the cast of the original Sarafinarehearse, under the directorship of the late Mbongeni Ngema. This encounter was the catalyst for my interest in the arts.'
Yeni's big break came with the pioneering legal drama Sokhulu & Partners, scripted by KZN-born writers Bongi Ndaba and Portia Gumede. It revolutionised African representation on SABC1.
'The show was a first of its kind and drew a huge following with SA audiences and made me a recognisable name. This amazing production changed the waythe industry and audience looked at me.'
But for years, the challenge for KZN talent was not creativity - it was access.
'The plan for any actor… was to pack your bags and head to Jhb… since thework opportunities were not available in KZN… This proved to have manychallenges for young people who had to move away from their families andcommunities,'' said Yeni.
This narrative is shifting fast, as broadcasters increasingly recognise the value of anchoring the industry in KwaZulu-Natal — empowering local talent to build their careers at home rather than migrating elsewhere.
'It is undeniable that KZN has beautiful locations... which makes this province attractive for film and television projects. This has really allowed young andupcoming actors to remain home and be able to do the work from home.'
KZN's shift from 'training ground' to production powerhouse has not happened in isolation.
A constellation of producers and filmmakers have built world-classportfolios while keeping their roots local.
Among them is Bonie Sithebe, one of the province's most prolific and consistent producers.Sithebe has produced over 20 films including Valley of a Thousand Hills, Perfect Match and Maskandi Queen, and co-founded Durban Motion Pictures.
Her work has screened internationally and has been instrumental in promoting isiZulu-language storytelling.
Jacinta de Nobrega whose production company is based in KZN has producedcritically acclaimed film London Recruits which premiered at the Johannesburg film festival last year, Deep End (2018/19) a locally acclaimed KZN coming of age surf drama; Lottery Love (2024) – a KwaMashu set romantic comedy which was nominated for the Simon Sabela Awards; and Durban Beach Rescue 2 (2016/17) – a television series for the Travel Channel.
Pravina Parsotham, a powerful voice in both creative production and publicbroadcasting, has been part of key national platforms including the SABC and educational media.
Together, this collective of creatives represents a wave of KZN-born industry leaders breaking glass ceilings while holding the door open for others.
Cinematographer Jerique Bernard was in Italy in 2024 shooting the short film Cassine from 5 to 7 during her artist residency as part of the prestigious Duemila30 Film Festival.
Image: Supplied
This is especially important to younger filmmakers like Jerique Bernard, whose films are rooted in impact and identity. Yet like many in the early stages of their careers, she struggled to fund her work.
'I've had a lot of opportunities but finding the money to finance them has alwaysbeen difficult. I've received donations to attend a film festival in Italy that kickedoff my journey with international films.'
Bernard has travelled in Europe and was the cinematographer and co-director of the short film Cassine From 5 to 7 alongside Anne-Sophie Charon. The film is part of the 2024 Duemila30 Lab and offers a poetic exploration of theItalian town of Cassine.
She also won the Best Student Film award for the uMgungundlovu FilmFestival, attended the Golden FEMI Film Festival in Bulgaria, and was also among others who received an honorable mention at the Student World Impact Film Festival in the UK.
She is currently an assistant producer and has worked on TV series, Roots, etc.
Well-known filmmaker Kethiwe Ngcobo in her edit suite during the making of her documentary film, And She Didn't Die which has received international acclaim
Image: Supplied
For Kethiwe Ngcobo, the story runs even deeper — through exile, return, and legacy.
'Storytelling is in my blood, and that blood is Zulu. My mother Lauretta camefrom a lineage of storytellers — her great-grandmother was a praise poet whopassed stories down through generations.'
Ngcobo recently produced the documentary, And She Didn't Die, funded by the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority (KZNTAFA), which earned two major accolades at the 2025 Encounters South African International Documentary Festival - winner: Ronelle Loots Award for Best Edited South African Feature Documentary; and runner-Up: Encounters Al Jazeera Award for Best African Feature-length Documentary.
'In 2004, I returned to the SABC as the inaugural head of drama — a homecoming of sorts. We created innovative programming… bringing Zulu narratives to national television.'
She encourages KZN youth to see their heritage not as a limitation, but as asuperpower.
'Embrace your heritage as your superpower… the praise poetry, the oral traditions… These aren't old-fashioned. They're your competitive advantage in a global industry hungry for authentic voices.'
From television series like Uzalo, Umkhokha, and Shaka iLembe to awards recognition at the Simon 'Mabhunu' Sabela Awards, KZN's presence is no longer a footnote in South African film. It is the headline.
Thanks to the catalytic work of the KZN Tourism and Film Authority, whose support for local development, location tours, and international collaborations continues to elevate homegrown talent, the province is poised to become apermanent fixture in Africa's cultural capital.
Ngcobo said: 'Home isn't just a place — it's the stories we carry and thevoices we choose to amplify.'And as Yeni affirms: 'It seems like a dream to me that I am able to do the work from my beloved KZN.'
It is not just a dream anymore. It is the new reality — and it's rolling on set.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE