Gcina Mhlophe

Dr Gcina Mhlophe is an author storyteller and founding director of Gcinamasiko Arts & Heritage Trust. Her works have been translated into many languages, including all official South African languages, kiSwahili, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese and even Braille. She has directed her theatre plays in USA, UK and Greenland, her most widely known and studied theatre text being “Have You Seen Zandile?”. Her poetry has been reinterpreted into dance and classical music. Seven Universities both in South Africa and internationally have awarded her with honorary doctorates. Dr Mhlophe’s awards include SAMA for her CD called “Stories of Africa”, OBBIE Award and Joseph Jefferson Awards in USA,

Fringe First in Edinburgh Festival, Multi Choice AFRICA Legend Storyteller Award, USIBA Cultural legend, SA Children’s Laureate Award and more recently the SAFTA Lifetime Achievement award for her acting and contribution to film in South Africa. As a South African storytelling luminary, her birthday on the 24th October is now recognised as National Storytelling Day in South Africa, since 2019 where it was inaugurated at her very own adopted performance space – The Storytelling Tree, in Durban (RSA).