Sphamandla Trevor Mzobe founder of Wala Wala Productions

” Sometimes success begins by falling.” .

Talia Delgado
Romania - 20/06/2008
  Sphamandla Trevor Mzobe is a 28 years old South African actor and artistic director and the founder of Wala Wala Productions and organization that promotes the African’s cultural and racial diversity.

What concrete factors determined you to become a social actor?

An economic, racial and cultural imbalance, misinterpretation of civilization of our country and ignorance among our youth was and is still what makes me wake up in the middle of the night and say, what is our next story.

In my life I have always wanted a job that will change my life and others, financial and social. I always wanted to escape my shy being and being an actor has helped me a lot. Besides this I realized how powerful the effect of movies, theatre and music is.

In an African culture there are stories which have been travelling from generation to generation, these stories are not real stories but they are created in a way that when you are young or old you will believe them.

These stories were full of respect, humanity and wisdom. We are where we are political, economical, social etc, it is because we have forgotten our stories and what ever I am or I’m not I am a product of those forgotten stories.

How did you come up with the idea of the project?

One important thing is that I have never seen what I do as a project only but I see it as part of my life. When I was in high school my friend invited me to attend a community theatre group, it happened that they were looking for young people to join their organization. During my first performance I had no clue what was going on, I just forgot who I was, I saw people crying and others were laughing with tears in their eyes and I said to myself “if this is what theatre does to people I would like to do it for the rest of my life”.

I started attending workshops to skill myself since my mother could not afford as a single parent to take me to university. I did performing arts learner ship in 2005 and the following year I worked for Ekhaya Multi Arts Centre as a drama facilitator but my vision was bigger than being a drama facilitator.

I took some of my students and I spoke to some of my friends to formally register an NPO and that is how Wala-Wala productions was formed. The organization is new, besides the light that we are bringing to our community we also see a bigger light ahead of us.

What has been your most positive and negative personal experience while doing your project?

Bringing theatre to my township, travelling meeting people and sharing stories with them fills my heart with joy and happiness. Winning the best actor, the best director awards and being nominated on Mercury Durban Theatre Awards has been a great experience.

Participating on Youth Action Net Fellowship Program in Washington DC has opened my eyes to re-look at what I do and I have learnt a lot. The performing arts industry in South Africa especially in KwaZulu Natal is being controlled by people who don’t care about arts, artists and the community. Working with Wala-Wala Productions has taught me that sometimes success begins by falling.

What or who motivated you to continue the project?

My mother is a very strong woman she managed to raise 6 children on her own without any education, a good job or a support from any man. It was not easy but she did it. This is not easy but I am trying my best, if I die one day my soul would rest in peace for I have contributed to make this world a better place to live. It is the economic and social imbalances in our country that prompt me. Over and above I love what I do, it describes me.

How the project did changed you as a person? In which concrete aspects did it?

The way I look at life, people, world and all that is connected to it has changed. It has taught me to value myself and other people even more; it has taught me that change and success does not happen over night. Therefore perseverance is the mother of success.

What final aims would you like to achieve with your project?

I would like to achieve a state where previously disadvantaged people my community would see themselves as part of the international world, where our local townships and Africa would appear on news papers and TVs not because of the statistics of crime, HIV and AIDS and poverty but because of victory over these things.

I would like to wake up in a new Africa where the successful worlds do not see it as a reason to manufacture condoms. I would like to wake up in a nation where color is not an issue but a compliment to the rainbow, since we are called the rainbow nation because of our cultural and traditional differences and diversity.

I would like to wake up in a world where one can smell peace and harmony.

Wala Wala .

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