Dr. Gcina Mhlophe is a celebrated South African author, storyteller, performer and the founding director of the Gcinamasiko Arts & Heritage Trust. Her work has been translated into numerous languages, including all 11 official South African languages, Kiswahili, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese, as well as Braille. She has directed and performed her theatrical works internationally, including in the USA, UK and Greenland. Her renowned play Have You Seen Zandile? remains among her most studied works, while her poetry has also been adapted into dance and classical music. Dr. Mhlophe has received numerous honours, including a SAMA, the OBBIE and Joseph Jefferson Awards, the Fringe First at the Edinburgh Festival, the MultiChoice Africa Legend Storyteller Award, the SA Children’s Laureate Award, the Flora Nwapa Literature Award and a SAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award. She has received eight honorary doctorates and was named one of the Mothers of the Nation in 2022. Her podcast, African Story Magic with Gcina Mhlophe, has also received multiple awards, including Podcast of the Year at the 2024 DStv Content Creator Awards. Through her literary, performance and heritage work, Dr. Mhlophe continues to champion African storytelling, literacy and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.
