Alinafe Sani-Chimwele

Malawi

Alinafe Sani-Chimwele is passionate about fighting HIV and AIDS. She was born in Malawi on July 7 1987. During her high school years, Alinafe found the stage extremely intriguing and fascinating and it was then that her passion for drama and acting was born. She went on to pursue a Degree in Drama and English Literature at the University of Malawi Chancellor College.

Working in collaboration with fellow Chancellor College students, students from UCLA and people living with HIV and AIDS, Alinafe became involved in a documentary project called “This Is My Story”. It was during this time that she developed a passion for fighting the HIV and AIDS pandemic which affected so many of her people in Malawi and the world over.

Her decision to join Drama for Life was based solely on her desire to combine her acting and facilitation skills with her passion to contribute to the fight against HIV and AIDS. She believes that it is only through active participation that the problem might somewhat be solved.

Benne Erasto Banda

Zambia

Benne is a Zambian cultural artistic practitioner with a journalism background. Benne, a renowned thespian who has been involved in arts administration for more than a decade, also belongs to several local and international networks of cultural animators and mentors.

Benne is a proponent of critical thinking and creative expression - works aimed at uplifting youths’ creative minds through anti-corruption, human rights, HIV and health-related campaigns and Spoken Word programmes. He has worked on multi-genre productions for radio, television, stage and community theatre. Under his belt are other works encompassing culture and arts based documentaries, short films, dance, poetry and storytelling both at home and abroad.

Banda has taken his theatrical, cultural and artistic work to various eastern and southern African countries, the UK, Finland and the Caribbean islands. He works with Arts Acres Afrika / Mafumu Kollektiv in Zambia, and Theatrum Botanicum, a UK theatre company. In addition to several other two-handers, as a director and actor, he also was in FOOTERS, Zambia’s debut production at the Edinburgh International Arts Festival.

Benne is a 2010 Bachelor of Arts Honours graduand of Wits and for 2011, he is pursuing his MA postgraduate studies under the Drama for Life Programme.

Bongani Ntshingila

South Africa

Bongani is a free-lance performing artist. Born in Evaton (Gauteng), Bongani grew up in the Northern Free State where he found inspiration to be an artist.

Bongani is a founder and a former member of Hupenyu Art Development Project which was established to uplift the standard of Arts and Crafts in our communities. This project has developed many artists from communities who are now in various professional artistic institutions.

Bongani is also an aspiring and promising script writer, director, and performer. Amongst other artistic works produced are: Behind the walls, Tumahole Heroes and Imbokotho. All these productions have participated in the Grahamstown National Arts Nestival and have received positive reviews.

The Drama for Life Festival has motivated him to apply for a scholarship to study for his Honours Degree at the Wits School of Arts.

He says that: ‘it is really an honour to be part of this larger community,’ and that he’ ‘hopes that all goes well for the rest of the programme’.

Butana “ Peter/Tosh” Molefe

South Africa

After completing his grade 12, Butana has been involved in HIV and AIDS education. He joined Love Life as a basketball player and continued to develop in the organization from being a groundbreaker( a one year volunteering program). He then joined Love Life’s National Office as a National Trainer and later given the responsibilities of National Events coordinator; where his love for the ARTS and community dialogues was rekindled.

Butana has represented the organization in different sittings and meeting with world icons such as state presidents Doctor Nelson Mandela, US President Bill Clinton, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and astounding leaders such as Bishop Reginald Desmond Tutu. Through these platforms his public speaking and facilitation experience continued to grow immensely.

Working through the department of Sports, Arts and Culture in the School Sports Mass Participation Program as a lead trainer and the Department of Health in their latest Extended Public Works Programs, Butana has gone through rigorous training and in-service training in preparation for his many roles in the sphere of community development and community Arts.

At Wits, through the Drama for life program, Peter hopes to expand his knowledge of education and training, using dramatic arts, so as to return to his community and continue to keep the fire of hope burning especially amongst those regarded as previously disadvantaged.

Chala Tumelo

Zambia

Chala is a film maker with a multi-disciplinary professional and industrial background. This encompasses theology, music, public relations, computer systems maintenance, corporate management, television drama and television magazine production.

As of January 31 2011, he has produced more than 650 television products, including the multi-awarding winning bi-weekly Zambian series Loose Ends. His works are still serialized with Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC - TV)

He is the creator and concept developer for Girls Alone and also produces and presents A-Z Gospel Music.

He also writes a weekly critique of local film and related issues in the Sunday Times, the weekend edition of Zambia’s national newspaper. He has so far written 109 published articles on technical, creative, market, legal and national policy aspects of local film.

Chala is keen on arts development for Zambia. He has passionately committed himself to the creation of sustainable economic criteria for Zambian arts with focus on socio-economic benefits for both the Zambian artiste and the Zambian arts consumer.

He perceives his relationship with Drama For Life as a strategic one in the above quest, and his Honours Degree studies at the Wits School Of Arts – Drama as a critical stepping stone.

Christa Dominic Komba

Tanzania

Christa has tutored theatre arts at Bagamoyo College of Arts (now TaSUBa) for over 25 years. She is an experienced actress (stage, radio and television), performance creator, storyteller and animator.

Christa is also highly experienced in working with Tanzanian communities on HIV and AIDS issues, reproductive health, mother to child, women empowerment, human rights and justice issues as well as out reach programmes on youth and corruption.
 
Christa has had the priviledge of performing in numerous countiries on the African continent as well as in Germany, England, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Jordan.
 
Christa is currently studying her BA Honours Degree in Dramatic Arts - Applied Drama, through the Drama for Life programme at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Faith Nonkululeko Busika

South Africa

Faith was born and brought up in the Westrand of Johannesburg. Her first encounter with theatre was at high school, where she was involved in a number of educational plays (as a performer and facilitator) for the youth in her community. These plays focused on issues that affect the youth, such as teen pregnancy, drug addiction and HIV and AIDS. She is currently part of the youth leadership program within the Westrand district.

Faith’s interest and passion in theatre has lead her to complete her BA Dramatic Arts Degree at the University of the Witwatersrand. Her training, which ended in 2010, has allowed her to feature as performer in various styles of theatre. She was also involved in a number of applied theatre interventions, where she worked collaboratively with communities such as: The Hillbrow Theatre, New Life Centre for Women and disadvantaged high schools.

During her training, she also managed to further her study in psychology up to second year, as the combination of psychology and applied theatre is of great interest to her, when applied at school level.

She is currently part of the Drama for Life Playback Theatre and is furthering her studies in Applied Theatre as a Master’s student as well as continuing with performance.

Julia Yule

Zimbabwe

Julia discovered theatre at an early age and she performed during her junior and high school years. She studied a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Zimbabwe. In order to realise her dream as a theatre practitioner and a community developer in her country, she then went on to pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Special Honours Degree in Theatre Arts.

As a founding member of an organisation that represents young people in the development of Zimbabwe, Julia worked as a community developer through theatre for development projects.

She has worked in projects with the British Council Zimbabwe, UNDP, UNIFEM and NORWEIGEAN PEOPLES AID. She also worked as an assistant projects coordinator with a community oriented organisation: SAVANNA TRUST.

Receiving a scholarship from Drama for Life is a dream come true for Julia as she believes it is going to help her reignite her passion for learning about theatre and the development of her home county.

Motto: Education is not the filling of a bucket but the lighting of a fire.

Laura Kelly

South Africa

Laura Kelly is a lover of drama, people, music, travel and bikram yoga.

She attended the National school of the Arts where she excelled and was offered a scholarship to study in the United States.

Laura went onto Wits University to further her education in dramatic art and after that entered the world of radio and television where she worked as an actress, radio jockey and video jockey.

Laura was also a member of the Playback theatre company where she was able to find alternative theatrical forms of expression. She is still involved with radio drama and voice over work while pursuing her post grad education through Drama For Life where she hopes to begin to make a difference in the way theatre is experienced by it’s audiences and use drama in community and social development.

Lesley Nkosi

South Africa

Lesley, 35, was born in Soweto but now lives in Vosloorus in Ekurhuleni.

Lesley has worked in media extensively over the past 10 years, having experience in both Radio and Television.

As a producer for Metro FM, his innovative thinking, lead to the tackling of hard and otherwise dark issues such as HIV and AIDS, unemployment, crime and drug abuse in 2001.

Lesley then began working as a researcher on various Khomanani Radio and TV campaigns which sought to create awareness around HIV and AIDS.

In 2004 he was recruited into Ochre Media where he worked as researcher and content developer on the multi award winning call-to-action campaign Talk to Me.

Lesley went on to head research as well as host a documentary series, Journey to a Dream and worked as Associate Producer on the popular soapie, Scandal.

He has also worked extensively in the entertainment industry as a dialogue coach and as a language advisor on a number of productions including Scandal and Gaz Lam.

Les Nkosi is currently working for the Nelson Mandela Foundation as a Lead Facilitator and media Coordinator on HIV and AIDS Community.Lesley is a firm believer that people have an innate ability to change for the better, which is why he is driven to work with changing behavior in dealing with various social justice challenges such as crime, unemployment, poverty, HIV and AIDS, xenophobia and various others. 

Nji Alain

Cameroon

Nji Alain is a professional performance artist, actor and stunt performer. Originating from the North West Region of Cameroon, he was born on September 6 1984. Due to his multicultural background, Nji is fluent in various languages and local Cameroonian dialects which were a pre-requisite for his workshop sessions throughout the country.

Nji, artistically known as Kessy, holds a BA Hons in Performing Arts and Cinematography from the University of Yaounde I-Ngoa-Ekelle. Specialising in Theatre Production, Nji stood out as one of the top achievers in his class: the second best student and the only English speaking student of his badge.

Being a full time performing artist made it easy for Nji to participate in several theatre and film-making sessions including Theatre for Development (TfD) workshops and many others. He has taken part in a good number of TV Dramas such as The Importance of Being Earnest and Madness is Contagious.

He has taken part in film-making workshops hosted by the Goethe Institute in Cameroon, and has also co-directed a few short films. Before coming to SA, he was a member of three theatre troupes, one of which was the NATT-Cameroon (National Association of Travelling Theatres).

Nji believes that DFL will give him the possibility to make use of his skills to serve the various communities back home, and to, essentially, make HIV/AIDS infected and affected people reconceptualise their perception of life.

Pearl Mbolekwa

South Africa

Pearl holds a BADA (Hon) in Dramatic Arts from the University of Witwatersrand and is currently doing her Masters in Dramatic Art at Wits University through the Drama for Life program.

Pearl is also a qualified educator and South African sign language interpreter at Wits University. She has worked at the Resource for the Blind in Lesotho as a Braille transcriber, and as an educator at various schools, both inclusive and special. Pearl has also worked as a community development worker for the blind.

Having worked with Deaf learners in her research project, she collaborated with GALA, training Deaf learners and adults about HIV/AIDS through image theatre and participatory method. They are now ready to be peer educators both at school and outside.

Pearl is passionate about making a contribution to the vivacious community theatre and would like to use her teaching and facilitation skills to “close the gap between the deaf and the hearing”. She believes that drama offers the most powerful means of achieving this goal.

Rogério Manjate

Mozambique

Born in Maputo – Mozambique, where he lives. He is a Drama lecturer of the Theatre Course at School of Communications and Arts of University Eduardo Mondlane.
 
In 2004 he founded the Oficina de Teatro Galagalazul, where he acts and directs.  
He has started his drama career in 1991 at Mbêu Theatre Group, and from 92 to 2005 joined Mutumbela Gogo. He has been in festivals and tours, in Germany, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Portugal, Brazil, Angola… 
 
He has also worked in television and cinema as an actor, director, screenwriter, producer, assistant director.
 
His Short film “I Love You” was awarded as best short film in international film festivals of Durban, Tarifa (Spain), Africa in Motion (Scotland).
 
He has published 3 books. His shorts stories and poems were also awarded locally and abroad and are published in local and international anthologies, journals, magazines and press.

Ronald Ahirirwe Jr

Uganda

True to his natural love for Drama, Ronald obtained his Diploma (Second Class Upper) in Drama from Makerere University in Uganda. He then obtained a Bachelor’s Degree (Second Class Upper) in Arts, with Drama as a subject, from Makerere University.

Professionally, Ronald has a rich experience in Development Communication using drama as a tool. For more than six years, Ronald has worked as a Lead Creative Writer for the successful Uganda AIDS Commission National Communication Campaign code named Young Empowered and Healthy (YEAH). He has led a successful development process of the 2007 AfriComNet award winning behavioural change radio serial drama code named RockPoint 256 which is the centre piece for the campaign.

Ronald has had experience in facilitation of community dialogues and focus group discussions through Theatre for Development (TFD). He has also directed and taken part in a number of radio dramas, informatials, commercials, and presented comic shows on two different radio stations in Uganda.

Ronald belongs to the AfriComNet which is a network of development communication practitioners in Africa. Ronald is the Creative Director of Bureau of Strategic Communication and Promotions, a private company in Uganda.

Ronald is convinced that his undertaking of a Masters Degree in Drama for Life will help him, along with his colleagues from various backgrounds, to REFLECT and CRITICALLY think on how best drama, along with other tools, can be used for EFFECTIVE behaviour change especially in Africa.

Sibongile Bhebe

Zimbabwe

Sibongile was born in Zimbabwe in the Matabeleland region in Bulawayo. She is a qualified high school teacher and believes that for her teaching was a calling. She is an English and Drama teacher and has been involved in community theatre especially in the vicinity of the schools where she taught, most of them being rural. She was also involved with the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in Binga-Zimbabwe, for women and children’s rights in a drama and theatre initiative.She also worked with the Save the Children Fund (UK) again in Binga in an HIV/AIDS programme as a theatre practitioner.

She aspires to write her own plays professionally and continue working with impoverished rural communities in Zimbabwe. She is grateful that Drama for Life has made it possible for her to start living her dream and one day she hopes that through Drama she will be the next Mother Teresa.

Theogene Niwenshuti

Rwanda

Théogène Niwenshuti is a multidisciplinary Artist, Peace Activist, Consultant in Communication and Arts for Development. He is among personalities who contributed to a newly launched book by CEPS (Centre d’Etudes et de Prospectives Strategiques), a Europe based International Organization. Entitled Africa Land of Talents and the Future (Afrique, terre de Talents et d’Avenir), the book is prefaced by the Nobel Peace Prize Rev. Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Théogène has been awarded and achieved medals like the Rector Excellence Award for Best Innovator 2009, University Award for Best Artist and Promoter of Art and Culture 2007, twice nominated for The Bishop Desmond Tutu Fellowship, three times for the Freedom to Create Prize, etc. He’s the Coordinator of the “Great Lakes Peace Campaign-Oya-”, inspired by his song “OYA” Ntibikongere which means NO, Never Again.

For over 20 years, he led or participated in campaigns and festivals in Africa and Europe, interacting with youth and adults from different corners of the Globe. He dreams of working for or implementing a Center, School, NGO, or Platform/Festival based on “Ubuntu”. He’ll promote collaborations, more human professional interventions and management in Africa. He wants to complete a PhD, keep researching, teaching, publishing to impact lives positively.

In 2010, after presenting a paper at the DFL Africa Research Conference he met DFL friends and researchers who are contributing to his Postgraduate experience. He reveals:“Being part of such a creative and internationally recognized academic space is one of amazing things that happened to me lately; a big step in my commitment to contribute to a better Africa and the World. I’m grateful to everyone behind it and God! I’ll gain more tools, increased intellectual, social, moral and entrepreneurial capacity to inspire, facilitate, and assist more communities”.

Research papers presented in 2010 and 2011:
1/ Can Arts heal trauma? Arts & Trauma healing: A journey through individual and collective narrative from troubled times. Uber(W)unden-Art in Troubled Times.
2/Dance as a communication tool to address inter-generational trauma for a healthier
psycho-social environment in Rwanda and the Great Lakes Region of Africa

Current research/Long essay:
MAT OPUT: ritual performance for healing and conflict resolution in the war affected region of Northern Uganda.

Yvette Ngum

Cameroon

Yvette hails from the Bambui land, North West Region of Cameroon. She later moved to CCAST Bambili where she had GCE Ordinary and Advance Level certificates with orientation towards Arts. While there, she got involved in the High School Drama Club.
 
With a B.A (Licence) in Drama and Theatre (Performing Arts) from the Performing Arts Section, Department of Arts and Archaeology, University of Yaounde 1 Cameroon. She has developed interest in Theatre for Development (TfD) assisting in empirical field work research; Performer and Facilitator, with the thematic perspectives include amongst others the Disabity and HIV and AIDS.

As a performer, she has done productions for radio, television and stage, going on a national tour with NATT Cameroon with a play on Human Rights, Democracy and Social Injustice. Some of the plays and TV dramas include Trail of Mr Mphip/The Teacher on Trial, Eneta vs Elimo et al. She has starred in few Cameroonian movies including the Ecran Noir Award winning Widows at War.

Her exploits do not limit her in the world of Arts but also in Business (Business Management) where she did a Professional Course in Accountancy and Financial Management.

Yvette is currently pursuing a Post Graduate Studies in Dramatic Arts at the University of Witwatersrand under the Drama for Life Programme. She aspires to become a Facilitator working with impovrished communities, youths and team-building, leadership skills, using drama and theatre to impact lives, connecting people and bring forth a positive change through participatory inputs.

Bhekilizwe Bernard Ndlovu

Zimbabwe

Bhekilizwe Bernard Ndlovu completed his Master of Art in Dramatic Art in 2010 and immediately got involved in the formation of the then Drama for life Zimbabwe Social Justice Project now called the Drama for Life Human Rights and Social Justice Project. Bheki graduated with a distinction in his research project. He has written and staged two plays called The Trial of the Senoir Citizen and Woza Zimbo. The plays look at the Zimbabwean social justice and human rights landscapes. Woza Zimbo shows at the Market Theatre lab between the 4th and the 15th of September 2011 as part of the Drama for Life Woza Zimbo Arts Experience.

Bheki also works for Themba Interactive as a Facilitator/Trainer. He views this part of his work as not just a job but a calling as he works with prisoners, youths and workers in exploring behavioural change around the subject of HIV/AIDS. He has done work at Sun City and Leeukop Prisons. He views prisoners as his brothers needing company and comfort from the outside world.

Ndlovu loves writing, directing and training. He is currently writing a movie called ‘Our Fathers who art on earth…’

Bheki is a seasoned Human Resources Practitioner who feels that drama is taking more of his time and he cannot complain as the two fields are hugely related. Training is an integral part of both and he likes it like that.

Clara Baumann

Germany

Clara Baumann was born in Mettingen (close to Osnabrueck), Germany, on October 13, 1991 and joined DFL in August 2011.

She grew up next to Husum - which is a nice town close to the Northern Sea - where she also finished high school in 2011. After graduating from high school, her first idea was to take part in a volunteer project in Latin America, when she read about DFL and was fascinated by the work of the Drama for Life Project, so she decided to leave Germany to go to South Africa.

Clara is interested in South Africa’s historical past and the current political situation. Besides doing drama, singing, dancing and playing badminton, Clara loves organizing things.

She works as Warren’s assistant and supports him from the Project Office on University Corner, 17th floor.

Hazel Barnes

South Africa

Hazel Barnes is a Senior Research Associate in Drama and Performance Studies on the Pietermaritzburg campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She is also a Mellon Visiting Scholar at the University of Cape Town and Consultant and Member of the Research Committee of Drama for Life and visiting lecturer, Division of Dramatic Arts, Witwatersrand University. She has a particular interest in Applied Drama for healing and development but has also directed and acted.

Joe Teffo

South Africa

Joe Teffo (known as Joe Black) is a young seasoned dancer, actor, musical performer and teacher. He holds a BA hons in performance, physical theatre and television studies from Wits University and BA Dramatic arts from University of Pretoria. He trained with Moving into dance (MID) in contemporary, afro fusion and afro jazz.

After completing his studies he worked for Music Mayday Holland as a residence dancer and arts administrator. His dance credit includes working with likes of Luyanda sidiya, David Matemela, Tshwane Dance Company.

Currently Joe works as a freelance dance teacher at National children theatre (Parktown) and works at Drama for Life Company Lab. He is passionate about the performing arts industry.

Jonathan Dobrawa

Germany

Jonathan Dobrawa was born near Osnabrueck, Northern Germany, in 1991.
He finished high school in summer 2011. After 13 interesting years in school he aimed to see some more of the world before beginning his studies. He liked the idea of being in a totally different country and surrounding for one year, learning things that are not taught in school.
During schooldays Jonathan was engaged in politics, as well as in sports, music and drama.
He is highly interested in South African history and politics, so he is very glad to have the opportunity to live in Johannesburg for one year and to be a member of the Drama For Life team. 

Kennedy Chinyowa

Zimbabwe

Kennedy Chinyowa is currently the Head of the Division of Dramatic Art and Senior Lecturer in Applied Drama and Theatre at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Previously, he was postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Drama and Performance Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (2006 – 7) and the Department of Drama and Film Studies (2008) at Tshwane University of Technology. He has taught at several universities including the University of Zimbabwe, Griffith University (Australia), and University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) and Tshwane University of Technology (South Africa). He was a visiting scholar in the Centre for Applied Theatre Research at Griffith University where he obtained his PhD degree in Theatre for Development.

He has won numerous research awards such as the American Alliance for Theatre in Education’s Distinguished Thesis Finalist Award, Griffith University’s Postgraduate Research Scholarship, the International Postgraduate Research Scholarship and the University of Zimbabwe’s Staff Development Fellowship.

Apart from presenting several papers and workshops at international conferences, he has published widely in books and refereed journals such as Research in Drama Education (UK), Studies in Theatre and Performance (UK), Drama Research (UK), Nadie Journal (Australia), Literary Criterion (India), South African Theatre Journal and Alternation (South Africa).

Levinia Jones

South Africa

Levinia Jones holds a BADA Honours degree from Wits University majoring in Physical Theatre and Performing Arts Management. Levinia is passionate about holistic education and development. She is currently the DFL Projects Manager and Festival Director. She took up this position in 2010 after returning from travels across India and Thailand.

This year has also seen Levinia lecture at Wits University on the Performing Arts Management course at fourth year level. In May she co-choreographed (with Jessica Denyschen) a physical theatre performance titled T/here for the Wits Arts and Literature (WALE)  festival. She was the Festival Director for the WALE Festival in 2010.

In 2008 she choreographed 23 Doors for the Small Stakes Festival in Johannesburg. In the same year she was also nominated for an MEC award for her performance in Touch, choreographed by Athena Mazarakis.

From 2008 to 2009, Levinia was the Programme Manager for DFL. During this period, she assisted with the Initial Drama for Life Workshop Festival and the first Africa Research Conference in Applied Drama and Theatre. Levinia has been privileged enough to see 3 years of DFL students through the Scholarship programme.

With 10 years of professional teaching experience, Levinia has taught drama and movement in South Africa and Botswana, both privately and within the school syllabi. She has taught I.E.B, O.E.B, A Level, Trinity College London, South African Guild and Matric drama systems. Levinia’s students have ranged from 3 years old to adults.

Levinia co-authored the Creative and Performing Arts syllabus (student and teacher manuals) for the Botswana Department of Education, published by Longman Botswana. In addition, she created and facilitated teachers training programs in the new syllabus for schools in Botswana.

Lonwabo Mavuso

South Africa

Lonwabo Mavuso holds a Bachelor’s in Dramatic Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand, where he majored in performing arts management and project and production development.

Lonwabo has worked on numerous major professional projects during the course of his studies, including the Bafundi Film and TV Festival. The Bafundi Film and TV Festival, in partnership with the SABC Industry Development Unit and Gauteng Film Commission (GFC), provided a platform where young film makers were given the opportunity to screen their work and to interact with industry role players and stakeholders.

As one of the founders of the Bafundi Film and TV Festival, Lonwabo’s role in this project was to head up marketing and overseeing the screenings during the festival. He was later appointed as project administrator, were he was responsible for overseeing festival operations.

Lonwabo went on to work on the organising teams for the Tri- Continental Film Festival, the Drama for Life Festival and The Africa Research Conference in Applied Drama and Theatre. Lonwabo is passionate about the arts and culture industry and has a keen interest in developing arts management skills for artists in less privileged areas.

Miriam Behrendt

Germany

Miriam Behrendt was born on May 11th, 1985 in Bielefeld (Germany).

She completed her MA Degree in Journalism and Culture Studies at Leipzig University (Germany) and supports the Drama For Life-Team in publicity and fundraising.

For the last five years she has worked as a journalist for German broadcasting and online publishing companies as well as a freelance presenter for international events like the short film festival “Filmfest Dresden”.

Since high school Miriam has had a passion for film and drama and also took part in her school’s theatre project.

She fell in love with South Africa in 2004 when she participated in a volunteer project in Kayamandi-Stellenbosch. Five years later she came back to the country to study at the Department of Journalism at Stellenbosch University and was very happy when she got the chance to join Drama for Life through a GIZ internship programme.

At Wits you will find her at UC 17, Room 16.

Munyaradzi Chatikobo

Zimbabwe

Munyaradzi Chatikobo is currently the Programme Manager of Drama for Life. He is an arts administrator and performing arts manager. He is also an educator, a leader and a facilitator in applied drama and theatre in developmental, education, health, arts, culture and youth projects.
 
He has vast work experience in arts education management, which is backed by sound academic background and in-service training in various aspects of performing arts management.

Munyaradzi graduated from University of Zimbabwe in 1995 with a Special Honours in Theatre where he was awarded a University Book Prize.

He recently successfully completed a Master Arts Degree in Dramatic Art under Drama for Life in the Division of Dramatic Art-Wits School of Arts. His research area was ‘Examining Sustainability of Drama and Theatre Initiatives in Southern Africa: A Case Study of Southern Africa Theatre Initiative (SATI).’

The study was about unpacking, understanding and interpreting the macro politics of drama and theatre initiatives in southern Africa with focus on partnership and programming policies of Northern and Southern NGOs. It was to an attempt establish the underlying philosophy that informs decisions that influence the sustainability or rather lack of sustainability of drama and theatre interventions in southern Africa

His work is guided by a philosophy of open participation, democracy and ubuntu which fosters the spirit of sharing, caring, constructive criticism and gender sensitivity in a multi-cultural environment. He believes in empowerment of people with self identity, self belief and life skills for negotiating local and global challenges and subscribe to the Charter of Ethical Practice for Applied Drama and Theatre Practitioners. 

Munyaradzi has work experience in government, non-governmental organisations and private sector, where he held positions of administrative assistant, administrator, programme officer, programme manager, production manager, general manager, consultant and board member in Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa. 

Nele Frie

Germany

Nele Frie was born in Westerstede, Germany, on April 8, 1993.

She grew up in her birthplace, which is a small town in northern Germany. There she also completed high school in spring 2011.

Because of her interest in different cultures she decided to go abroad for a year before starting to study in Germany.
When she read about the “Drama for Life” project she thought that it is a really good and interesting way to think and speak about important topics in a society by doing Applied Theatre.
That is why she is really happy about getting the chance to work for “Drama for Life”.

At Wits she works on the 17th floor of the University Corner, assisting in the Project Office.

Ntombi Nkuna

South Africa

Ntombifuthi Nkuna (known as Ntombi) is an Honors graduate majoring in Physical theatre and Performance studies (movement, acting and voice training) from the University of Witwatersrand.  She is currently studying her Masters in Arts, Culture and Heritage Management at the University of Witswatersrand and working at Drama for Life as Project Coordinator.

As a performer she has worked with directors such as James Ngcobo, Myer Taub, Tshepo wa Mamato and choreographers like Bailey Snyman and Gregory Maqoma.

Ntombi is also the co-founder of Khwela Theatre Productions, which is a registered community based non-profit organization that creates new theatre works and has school projects within the Sedibeng District.  She is passionate about working within the Arts to bring positive change in the lives of our people.

Tamara Gordon

South Africa

Tamara Gordon attended Rhodes University where she completed an undergraduate degree in Drama and Psychology, graduating in 2004. In 2005 she completed her Honours, specialising in Drama in Education; Dance Culture and Education; Contemporary Performance; Theatre Studies and Physical Theatre. Whilst specialising in Drama in Education, under the supervision of Alexandra Sutherland, Tamara facilitated Process Drama workshops within a variety of Grahamstown’s private, government and township schools, at the Provost Prison and at the Kuyasa Shelter. These workshops combine dramatic and creative techniques within the curriculum to encourage participants to approach the learning experience from new and exciting perspectives.

On leaving Rhodes University, Tamara assumed a junior teaching position in the Drama Department at St Stithians Boys’ College in Johannesburg (January 2006 to December 2007). In this position she was responsible for the teaching of drama theory and practical for Grades 8 to 10, and formulating and facilitating physical theatre and movement courses for Grades 8 to 12. In addition to this Tamara structured and developed the Twananani Community Project at St Stithians Boys’ College. In her role as project co-ordinator she structured a weekly programme to encourage students from the Boys’ College to cross cultural and language barriers and connect with children from Twananani Pre-School through the mediums of art and drama.

In 2006 Tamara assumed a part-time position in the Dramatic Arts Division at the Wits School of Arts, where she lectured Process Drama, working to develop a network of schools for practical placements, facilitating these placements, and guiding the development of the students’ process drama practice. In 2008 Tamara’s lecturing extended into the Drama for Life programme and she co-ordinated Africa’s first Applied Drama and Theatre Conference.

Later in 2008 Tamara began her Masters in Drama and Movement Therapy (Sesame) at the Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London. Having completed her Masters, Tamara has rejoined the Dramatic Arts Division and the Drama for Life programme.

Warren Nebe

South Africa

Warren Nebe is the Director of Drama for Life. He is a theatre director, senior lecturer, a HPCSA and NADT registered Drama Therapist and a Fulbright Alumni. He is also the Managing Director of Themba Interactive – Initiatives for Life.

His research focuses on identity construction, representation and memory in South Africa through an auto-ethnographic theatre-making approach. This research is articulated in the Transformation Project supported by the Wits Transformation Office and Carnegie Corporation. Notions of identity are explored in two theatre productions, ID Pending and Hayani, under his direction.

Warren is also a research member of the Wits School of Human & Community Development, Apartheid Archives Research Project. His other research focuses on how an integrated drama and theatre education, therapy and activist approach can foster capacity development in HIV/Aids and Human Rights education throughout Africa.

He curated the SA Theatre Season in 2010, Honouring the Archive: Theatre, Memory and Social Justice, and again in 2011, titled: SA Theatre Season: The Personal Archive: Diversity in Conversation. He is currently working on a Facebook Performance Project exploring race, identity and culture in a cyber dialogue.

Alexander Ptok

Germany

Alexander Ptok was born in Bochum, Germany on September 18, 1990.

He finished high school in 2010 and took part in the school’s Drama Group for the last year. Furthermore he engaged in an HIV and AIDS education Group from 2007 until August 2010.
He has already visited other countries such as Great Britain and France to improve his language skills and to get to know different people and cultures.
Because of that, he chose to participate in the Drama for Life project.

He will spend one year in South Africa with the German development Service to support DFL voluntarily. He is situated at 17th floor University Corner, where he helps Levinia and Lonwabo with the DFL Festival.

Alfred Elikem Kunutsor

Alfred Elikem Kunutsor is a 27 year old native of the Ewe tribe in Ghana who holds a Bachelors degree with Honours in Dramatic Arts from Wits University. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Dramatic Art with interests in Physical theatre and dance. Alfred is a dancer, percussionist, designer and choreographer. He is interested in the physical body and finding ways of breaking limits inscribed on the body in movement due to factors outside and within the self.

Alfred is currently choreographing and directing the music component of Anowa by Ama Ata Aidoo.

Ava Avalos, MD

Ava Avalos is a dancer and a doctor of internal medicine specializing in HIV and AIDS. Her interests in non-Western dance healing practices lead her to the study of physiology and finally to medicine after completing her graduate and undergraduate degrees with dance at UCLA.

For the past seven years, Ava has been living and working in Botswana, now serving as an HIV specialist and technical advisor for the Botswana Ministry of Health.  As coordinator of clinical research, and secretariat to the HIV and AIDS research advisory committee, she oversees all clinical research – with her own areas of clinical research focusing on issues of adherence and the development of resistance mutations to antiretroviral therapy.  She also serves as coordinator of TB and HIV and AIDS integration efforts at the Ministry of Health.

Her greatest joy remains dancing, directly caring for patients and teaching yoga.  To maintain what little sanity is left after her intensive clinical responsibilities, Ava directs the Tshedisa Institute a Care for the Caregiver center where health care providers can come to restore and rejuvenate their body, mind and spirit. 

Candice Steele

South Africa

Candice Steele (nee Levieux) is a programme manager in the Knowledge Fields Development directorate at the National Research Foundation, where she is also the research manager of the South African National Antarctic Programme. She holds a Masters degree in Social Science, which she obtained in 1998 from the School of Environment and Development at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her career has been largely in the broad sphere of development, with a particular focus on HIV and AIDS. She is also a graduate of the Wits School of Arts, having completed a postgraduate diploma in Arts and Culture Management in 2007. 

Christopher Odhiambo

Kenya

Christopher ODHIAMBO joseph (CJ)

Is an Associate Professor of Post Colonial Literatures and Applied Drama. Teaches both Literature and theatre at Moi University’s Department of Literature, Theatre and Film Studies. Was awarded a doctorate in drama at Stellenbosch University on a research work that investigated the appropriate procedures and methodology of practice in Theatre for Development in Kenya. The book version of the doctoral thesis was published in Germany in 2008 under the title: Theatre for Development in Kenya: In Search of Appropriate Methodology and Procedure. Has participated in a number of educational and intervention theatre workshops, seminars and conferences locally and internationally as facilitator, paper presenter and keynote speaker. He has published widely on the area of educational and intervention drama/ theatre as well as literature in journals and books. He was the Co-convener and organizer of the International Drama/Theatre Education Association in Kisumu Kenya in 1998 and the KDEA International symposium that preceded it in 1997 at University of Nairobi and Kenya National Theatre. He is a perennial adjudicator at all levels in the Kenya National Schools and Colleges Drama Festival. He pioneered the teaching of theatre at Moi University. In 2007 he won a Mellon post doctoral fellowship to pursue research on the intervention and transformative strategies in the drama(s) of Cameroonian playwright Bole Butake at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He has taught drama at Stellenbosch and Wits University. He also writes short stories, poems and plays; has also directed a number of plays. He was part of the team of experts that designed and implemented the curriculum of DFL and is member of Drama for Life (DfL) research committee. Was one time the project director of IDEA.

Eliana Schueler

Germany

Eliana Schüler was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1989.

Eliana was always interested in the arts, music in particular. She learned playing the piano, later focusing on singing and acting. Alongside school, Eliana worked as a camp counselor and took part in two short-term exchange programs with France that increased her motivation of going abroad for longer periods.

In 2009, Eliana finished high school having majored in English, French and History and planned working in a SOS Children`s Village in the Republic of Niger. Due to the turbulent political situation in Niger, her project was cancelled and that was when she learned about Drama for Life.

For the next ten months, she coordinated the DFL Resource Centre, worked on the DFL Website and supported the Festival Team. Apart from that she was part of an Amnesty International Volunteer group.

Having changed her focus from the arts to social change, she is presently studying towards her Bachelor degrees in Cultural and Social Anthropology and Sociology at the University of Vienna.
Besides that she is involved with an Amnesty International LGBT Rights Network and is tutoring children with migration background.

Insa Kuschnerus

Germany

Insa Kuschnerus was born in Hanover, Germany, on November 21, 1989.

She completed high school in the small town of Bad Honnef and 2009 and was part of the school’s drama group. She also participated in a work group in which she learned about the history and culture of South Africa.

Insa also participated in a schools exchange programme with schools in England and France to improve her language skills. In 2008, she started to write poetry and participated in a few Poetry Slams in Cologne. In 2007, she joined the local group of Amnesty International to volunteer in organising events in protest against human rights violations.

This great appreciation for South Africa and the arts as well as human rights work could only take her to Drama for Life. So Insa applied to the German Development Services to undertake a year volunteering with DFL at Wits University.

She works in the DFL office supporting the programme manager to organise workshops and other events like the DFL welcome reception. She has also contributed to some of the workshops and helped out during the DFL conference.

Julius Lax

Germany

Julius Lax was born in Göttingen, Germany, on September 24, 1990.

He grew up in Oldenburg, which is a small city in northern Germany.

After having completed high school in 2010 he decided to do civilian service to avoid the German military service. Julius got the chance to do his civilian service in a foreign country and since he is very interested in the history of South Africa he is very glad for this opportunity.

Julius is Warren’s assistant and supports him from the Project Office on University Corner, floor 17.

Kirsten Meyer

South Africa

Kirsten Meyer is a registered member of the Health Professions Council of South Africa. She obtained her Postgraduate Diploma in Dramatherapy from the University of Hertfordshire (UK) in 1999.  She has worked extensively throughout South Africa in various fields as therapist, facilitator and educator.

She is co-founder and co-director of the Zakheni Arts Therapy Foundation and has run Dramatherapy groups with diverse communities including: female offenders, children and adolescents living with HIV and AIDS. At present, much of her NGO work is focussed around the FireMaker Project; a development project that aims to skill care workers working with children affected and infected by HIV, to use drama, art and play in psychosocial support.

She has run Dramatherapy groups for children and adolescents living with HIV and on antiretroviral treatment for the past five years, developing psychosocial programmes for children and their caregivers.

Kirsten runs a small private practice and regularly conducts workshops on Dramatherapy for interested organisations and individuals.

Before qualifying as a Dramatherapist, Kirsten taught drama at St Barnabas College, for six years. After qualifying as a Dramatherapist her education work has continued. She has worked in a percentage capacity for Wits University School of Education training drama educators for 18 months.  She also lectures part time at Wits School of the Arts in Applied Drama methods.

She regularly conducts workshops for the Curriculum Development project with Arts and Culture educators around the country.

She consults as a therapist for AFDA Johannesburg (the independent school of live and motion picture), as well as lecturing there part-time.

Kirsten is a registered facilitator with the Skills Development SETA.  Her experience and expertise lies in creative group facilitation.  She has been facilitating corporate and organisational workshops over the past seven years for various training and development companies.

She brings with her a sound understanding of the creative arts and how they can be used effectively in education, healing and transformation.

Maída Hernández Lara

Germany

Maída Francisca Hernández Lara was born in Mainz, Germany, on February 7, 1991.

Being half German, half Colombian she grew up in a multi-cultural environment speaking Spanish and German and travelling around the globe.

She completed her hig school in Wiesbaden, a city close to Frankfurt.

To improve her language skills Maída attended an exchange programme in Cairo in grade 11. From her return to Germany until leaving for South Africa she has been training and preparing students for their year abroad.

Back in Germany Maída wants to study international relations in Karlsruhe, combining her passion of exploring new places with her work.

At WITS she works on the 17th floor of the University Corner, assisting Levinia Jones in the Project Office.

Modise Mogotsi

South Africa

Modise Mogotsi trained as an Occupational Therapist from University of Cape Town (UCT) and qualified with Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, BSc (OT). He obtained further education from Umeå Universitet (UMU) by completing Master of Science In Public Health, MSc (PH) with distinction on thesis. Registered with Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and Board of Healthcare Funders (BHF). Also permitted to practice in Norway.

Modise has wide experience in mental, general and public health practice and research. He has engaged with various organisation and/or institutions such as Medical Research Council (MRC) and Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Stellenbosch; Sports Science Institute; Kenilworth Place Addictions Centre; Alexander Forbes; Nairobi Place Addictions Centre (Kenya); Governmental Departments (e.g. Education, Health, Land Affairs); University of the Witwatersrand; Crescent Clinic;  Lifehealthcare group (Bloemcare, Springs Parklands Hospitals); Medi-clinic group (Hydormed, Morningside Hospitals), Netcare group (Garden City Hospital) etc. 

Modise lived, studied and worked in different provinces including Northwest (Mmabatho and Rustenburg); Kwa-Zulu Natal (Durban); Western (Cape Town, Tygerberg and Stellenbosch); Free State (Bloemfontein, Mangaung) and Gauteng Provinces (Johannesburg, Soweto, Sandton; Vereeniging; Pretoria; East, Mid and West Rand). Roles performed included health therapist, education therapist, associate researcher, addictions counsellor, disability consultant, lecturer (Occupational Therapy, Public Health and Dramatic Art), private practitioner, etc.

Modise is currently an active member of Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa (OTASA) performed and/or performing the following functions: Editor of FOCUS (National OTASA Newsletter), Marketing Officer of OTASA Southern Gauteng Branch (SGOT); involved with Psychiatric Occupational Therapists (POTS) and Occupational Therapist in Life Assurance (OTLA); a member of Institute of Occupational Therapists in Private Practice (INSTOPP); a member of International Quality of Life Society (ISOQOL); a member of School-Based Occupational Therapists (SBOT); an active member of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Association of South Africa (ADHASA) performing the following functions: an executive member of ADHASA Soweto Branch (Soweto Project Manager and Professional Liaison), a board member of ADHASA National; a previous member of professional standards and ethical committee at the University of the Witwatersrand; a member of Occupational Therapy Region Group (OTARG) a subsidiary of World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT); International Society for Quality of Life Studies (ISQOLS); Academic And Non-Fiction Authors’ Association of South Africa (ANFASA).

Modise has promoted the OT profession through various media including print, audio-visual on exhibition (Annual Disability Expo); radio (commercial – Limpopo and community – Johannesburg stations), television (The Chatroom – culture and lifestyle) and video (Western Cape Educational Programme on Addictions).

Modise has attended and presented in various congresses, symposia and/or workshops including ADHASA, SGOT, POTS, OTASA, OTARG, NGOT, OTLA. He published articles in reputable journals including Psyche, Harvard Reviews of Psychiatry, Psychopathology, etc. He has also contributed to chapters in various books as well as special publication such as Occupational Therapy guidelines for Anxiety Disorder aimed at both practitioners and students.

Modise’s most recent work include engagement as an associate researcher on lifestyle and wellness issues covering quality of life and ergonomics; a lecturer and facilitator in Occupational Therapy Department undergraduate program (School of Therapeutic Sciences) covering ethical and legal issues, interview skills, clinical reasoning and (psycho-social) vocational rehabilitation; a lecturer in School of Public Health postgraduate program covering ergonomics and vocational rehabilitation; a lecturer in Drama Department postgraduate program (School of Arts) covering quality of life within drama and theatre practices all at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is also in private practice covering predominantly child, adolescent and adult mental health issues as well as Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) and Medico-Legal (ML).

Modise is a traditional Chinese wushu practitioner in both Shaolin and Wudang systems. He enjoys outdoor life, cooking, music, cycling, walking, dance, hosting and ball games e.g. volleyball. He also engages with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as well as indigenous attitude and knowledge e.g. games.

Monica Newton

South Africa

She has worked with national, provincial and local government and related government agencies since 1997, firstly as a full time employee and later as a consultant. Working across a range of sectors, portfolios and development agendas has provided her with a solid understanding of and insight into the South African economy, policy framework and governance processes. Building on the research, writing and analytical skills provided by her tertiary education, she has acquired a wide range of competencies which include management, research, strategy development, communication, presentation and negotiation.

Ochard Sibanda

Ochard holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Sociology with a specialisation in Labour, Policy and Globalisation. His MA thesis is on peer education and HIV testing. He obtained an award for outstanding performance in Sociology.

Ochard has been extensively involved in researches for the Society, Work and Development Institute (SWOP) at the University of the Witwatersrand. He continues to work with SABCOHA on their provincial conferences, sharing his knowledge with delegates on peer education as an HIV/AIDS intervention in workplaces.

Sophia Ayissi

Germany

Sophia Jacquelina Ayissi Nsegue was born in Bonn, Germany, on February 13, 1991.

Due to her half German, half Cameroonian background she grew up in a multi-cultural environment, always being interested in other countries and cultures.

She finished high School in 2010 with a German and a French graduation and was a member of her school’s Musical and Drama Group. Next to her interest in music (she plays the guitar, the violin and sings), she has always been very attached to film and theater, doing several internships in this domain and intending to study film directing after her year in South Africa. Furthermore she supported her community as a Scout Leader .

She will spend one year in South Africa with the German development Service to support DFL as a volunteer, assisting the program manager in the DFL office.

Tshepiso Konopi

South Africa

Tshepiso Konopi is a young and inspired creative person, from a village in Mafikeng called Magokgwane. His life’s passion is the creation of art especially drama which has the potential of becoming a cure to many socio-psychological and political ills.

Being raised on a diet of folk tales, idioms and deep Setswana riddles, and having studied Acting at Wits University, his calling within this milieu of art is storytelling which encompasses directing, writing and acting. Tshepiso intends to use his skills to empower people who have no means to acquire higher education; to use theatre as a tool of socio- spiritual learning; and to contribute to the greater advancement of performance studies in South Africa, drawing from his traditional and cultural education to enrich theatre practice.

Tshepiso is currently conducting research into actor training methodologies with the intension of creating a viable method that is applicable to young actors of South Africa. The method used will implement acting as a tool for self penetration and inner growth, not the exhibition of ones self for art’s sake.