Buhle Ngaba
New Archival Visions Fellow
Buhle Ngaba is a multi-award winning South African actor, writer, and speaker. Her research and performance interests include developing new thought processes around the role of storytelling and creativity in unearthing and amplifying African women’s voices from the archive; to inspire new narratives and push the boundaries of performance.
Currently, she is researching and curating “The Southern Women’s Archive” ; an extensive collection of photos, personal letters, journals, books, essays, manuscripts, internal correspondence and minutes of women’s meetings from across the world inherited from her great-aunt Ruth Mompati; one of the first woman soldiers of Umkhonto WeSizwe and founding member of the Federation of South African Women established in 1954. This archive not only holds personal significance, but also speaks to who and what is remembered in the South African consciousness globally.
Other achievements:
- Pro-Helvetia Swiss Studio Residency; Artist (2020)
- Virtual National Arts Festival; premier film screening (2020); Swan Song
- 20th Anniversary of The Women’s Legal Centre (SA); Keynote address (2019)
- Localised The New Girl Code (2019)
- Women’s Creative Writing Mentorship Project, University of Iowa (IWP); participant (2019)
- AWP Conference (Portland); attendee (2019)
- Mbokodo Awards for Women in the Arts; Rising Light Award (2019)
- Fleur Du Cap Theatre Award; Best Ensemble Cast (2018); What Remains
- Hyundai Kona Studio – Afropunk (2018/19); MC
- Design Indaba Conference (2018/2019); MC
- KKNK – Kanna Award; Best Upcoming Artist (2017); Swan Song
- KKNK – Kanna Award; Best Production – Uitkamp Teater (2017); Swan Song
- Superbalist Top 100 Entrepreneur List; voted number 1 (2016)
- Mail and Guardians’ Top 200 Young South Africans; named (2016)
- Gauteng Youth Premier’s Award of Excellence (2016)
- The Girl Without A Sound; written and published (2016); available in 11 official ZA languages
- TedX Table Mountain; How Storytelling Can Change How We See the World (2016)
Related news
MAXEKE: “This work is not for yourselves”
This production premieres at the Star Theatre at the District Six Homecoming Centre (formerly the Fugard Theatre) on the 7th February until the 11th February 2023.
In the Press: Buhle Ngaba on CHR Charlotte Maxeke Production
CHR Artist in Residence Buhle Ngaba is writing a screenplay for a groundbreaking puppetry production on the life of Charlotte Maxeke.
Performing Charlotte Maxeke
With 2021 being declared “The Year of Charlotte Maxeke,” the DSI-NRF Flagship on Critical thought in the African Humanities at the Centre for Humanities Research, University of the Western Cape, has embarked on a special production based on the life of Maxeke.
Hamlet, Live and In Progress
CHR Artists in Residence Buhle Ngaba and Tony Bonani Miyambo are set to perform a live reading of Neil Coppen’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet as part of KKNK 2021.