Founder & Corporate had the privilege of talking to talented Creative and Playwright Ntombi Buhlungu this Women’s Day. We believe her journey will ignite hope and inspire many others hoping to make a mark on the world to rise and shine! This is what she had to say:

Please tell us a little about yourself and your background

I am a born-again Christian. I am married and a mother of two beautiful kids aged 11 and 6. I am a screen writer, a playwright, a producer and an actress. I am a qualified Human Resources practitioner and a holder of a Masters in Business Administration.

What inspired you to get into theatre productions and the creative space?

I believe there are many events and influences that made me love theatre and film. My biggest inspiration is my mother. She triggered the love for acting when I was little. My mom would write stage plays for my siblings and I to perform in church from the time we were in Sunday School. The passion grew from there.

I also took part in stage plays in Primary School and became a member of the drama club in secondary school. A classmate then started a creative writers’ club, which inspired me to write stories. I began by writing short stories in an exercise book and giving these to classmates to read. This eventually progressed to writing stage plays as I grew older.

I believe another inspiration came from watching the film SARAFINA, which explored the efforts of high school students and their courageous History teacher (played by Whoopi Goldberg), in fighting against the unjust Apartheid system in Sputh Africa in the 1990s.

I first watched the film at my uncle’s house when I was 14 years old. After that, I couldn’t get enough of it and eventually learnt the dialogues word for word. As time went on, I realised I actually loved the art of creating dialogues more than writing short stories, and this influenced my love for scriptwriting.

What do you want people to know about Khwezi Kreative Kulture Productions?

Khwezi Kreative Kulture is a content production house that focuses on the creation of visual and written creative content such as theater productions, screen plays, radio content and blogs.

We also offer scriptwriting services. The organisation has successfully produced creative content such as Twisted Turn Christian Theatre Production, #Adulting Theater Production and two short films titled Langalami and Pandemic Pains. Moreover, the organisation has provided screen writing as well as production management services for the second season of Soulmate, which be airs on ZTN Prime, on DSTV.

What have been the highlights of your experience in the creative space?

Without a doubt, the most outstanding experience for me was the Twisted Turn Theatre Production.

This was the very first theatre production I wrote and produced, and will forever be the biggest highlight of my journey as a creative. It was daunting to write something and put it on stage in front of an audience of 1000 + people as a first-timer. God turned up in an amazing way. I was surrounded by a team of creatives who believed in the vision and brought the script to life on stage.

The support we also received from the church was beyond amazing. Moreover, people turned out in their numbers to watch the production, and the glowing reviews afterwards motivated us to keep going.

The second most amazing experience for me was taking part in the Savanna Trust Female Playwrights Masterclass.

I was selected to take part in the Savanna Trust Female Playwrights Masterclass in 2021 along with seven ladies from around Southern Africa i.e Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia. The
facilitator of the Master class was Philisiwe Twinstra, an International Award winning South African Playwright. Philisiwe is a scriptwriting lecturer at the Durban University of Technology.

It was exciting to learn and glean from her knowledge in the field as well as network with all the participants. The scripts that we developed during the masterclass were read out by seasoned actors on the final day of the program and it was an all-round amazing learning experience.

The third highlight was being selected to be part of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe

I was one of the 60 ladies who were selected out of 600 applicants to be part of the 3rd Cohort of AWE for creatives in 2021. I learned many concepts that helped me apply business principles to my passion. I additionally met many women in the creative industry, some who have taught me a lot as a writer.

Finally, being part of the Soulmate Series Season Two writing team was a great honor for me as an upcoming Playwright.

I was contracted to be part of the writing team and later a head writer for the series. The experience stretched me and I learnt so much about writing a series. I also met a lot of creatives that have helped have imparted new skills and grew my knowledge as a creative.

What is your advice to young people looking to venture into the creative industry?

1. Take the first step – The best way to get into the creative industry is to start. Take the first step and whatever you feel led to do, put it out there. It may be daunting at first but with each step you take you grow and you learn.

2. Get into digital spaces – Make sure you are active in digital spaces so that your craft can be shared with the world. You cannot light a candle and hide it under the table.

3. Be resilient – Develop thick skin and a strong back bone as the creative industry is really tough. You need to have a clear vision and stay focused on your goals. Do not be discouraged but take each fail as a learning curve.

4. Be focused – The industry can be fast and flashy. Know why you are in it and stay the course. Do not be distracted by flashy lifestyles, focus on growing and achieving your goals

How can people who are interested in your products and services get in touch with you?

Anyone looking to work with us or hoping to learn more about our services can call or text us on +263 713 334 435, or Email – khweziproductions@gmail.com 

People can also get in touch with us via our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Facebook – Khwezi Kreative Kulture Productions

Twitter – @KhweziKreative

Instagram – KhweziKreative