#southafricanindustry

[its-esoteric]

Seeing Ourselves: Why On-Screen Representation Matters

Platforms such as Dstv, Showmax, and more recently Netflix have made it more accessible for black womxn storytellers to write, produce and direct their bodies of work. Seeing more black womxn storytellers on local and international platforms is an affirming reflection of the successful careers available to young black womxn in the creative industry.

Seeing black womxn being cast as leads or work as creative drivers of the content that we consume surely is a testament to our existence, our aspirations and dare I say, the future of the global creative industry. And for that, we at It’s Esoteric, can’t help but celebrate these important wins. Woza sibashayele izandla

The first black womxn I will highlight is Busisiwe Ntintili who owns and produces stories from her company The Ntintili Factory. One of the first productions from the leading lady was the highly acclaimed educational series about the spread of HIV among multiple sexual partners, Intersexions (2010). The series was a hit on SABC 1 and went on to win Ntintili a Peabody Award. Now that is what I call award-winning edutainment!

Busisiwe Ntintili went on to romance us with severe black girl magic by producing the film adaption of the book Happiness is a Four Letter Word written by Cynthia Jele. The film follows the friendship of three successful black womxn, all trying to juggle life, love and everything in between. Thinking back to 2016, I don’t think South African cinema had seen such a boisterous yet complex representation of an all-black womxn leading cast.

Another round of applause? I think yes!

As a curator and young black womxn myself, I would be remiss if I did not mention the multitalented artist, actress, and director Mmabatho Montsho. This creative goddess is a true representation of existing in the highest expression of her potential. We first saw her on our local television screens as Lumka on the popular SABC 1 television soapie Generations. She also happens to be one of the leading ladies on Busisiwe Ntintili’s Happiness is a Four Letter Word – shout out to black womxn collaborations!

Not only does she do an excellent job on screen, but her talent also extends behind the scenes where she has written for award-winning Mzansi Magic hit series Lockdown (another all-female lead project). There’s more, Mmabatho Montsho is responsible for directing an award-winning short film based on the struggle hero Winnie Madikizela-Mandela played by singer and songwriter Simphiwe Dana. Now if that isn’t black girl empowerment, I’ll never know what is.

Simphiwe Dana stands dressed in the Methodist Womxn’s Movement aka uManyano attire symbolising faith, strength, and resistance.

Last but certainly not least, a pioneering producer in the South African creative industry is Netflix African original script to screen producer Nosipho Dumisa. Together with her production company, Gambit Films, this leading lady partnered with Netflix to give us strong black leads in the form of a teen drama, titled Blood and Water ( 2020 – Out now on Netflix). What we can all appreciate about Nosipho Dumisa is that she used up and coming actors who we may have seen in our local screens and placed them on an international platform such as Netflix.

The Number 37 (2018) director is inspired by the passion that is instilled by her job, despite the many (many) challenges that come with being a black womxn director operating in South Africa’s creative industry. However, her experience as the business owner of Gambit Films has meant that she has had to open doors for herself but what we can appreciate from this is how she has taken young black womxn with her in the rise of her success and we can’t help but to stan!

As I wrap up, allow me to put together a few international names that have also contributed to a healthy amount of my screen time: Mindy Kaling (Ocean’s 8, A Wrinkle in Time, The Mindy Project), Issa Rae (our current favourite show Insecure and The Photograph), Ava Duvernay (When They See Us, Queen Sugar, A Wrinkle in Time) and Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and of course Scandal – the Olivia Pope version)

ItsEsoteric babe, Lethabo