I am a born story teller...Thank you Mr Richard H Nosworthy and WGSA

I am a born South African story teller. Even if I am not paid or work in a commercial set up, I will tell stories not even aware that what comes out of my mouth is attention grabbing to slow the production of any group work. Whether people believe the stories I tell to be true or not. I have really outgrown that stage of trying hard to convince them. But I do still trying hard almost everyday to hone my skill. But from when I was young, story telling has been around me and has been the only or major way to get my attention or teach me something. Whether these came in a form of a family evening gathering under tree and fire wood down in Engxongweni in Port St John's Ceskei in the early 80s. Or watching and imititating the Chinese movies starring Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and other 90s Chinese movie with the line "You killed my mother and father, now I've come to kill you" at the Port Elizabeth township bioscope. Or better yet, spending my evening at my aunt's house in 3rd Avenue Alexandra Township watching and learning all kinds of story telling platforms from action movies, drama, comedy, soapies, romantic to reading different genre of books and ended up being a collector of amongst other favourite authors then, Sydney Sheldon an American screenwriter. Inspired by him, especially his novel Rage of Angels- a novel released in the 80s about a female lawyer who beds both powerful politicians and dangerous gangsters- I wanted to study law as it is said story tellers are best lawyers in the world...LOL!*Winks*. But anyway, driven by my passion to try other platforms of story telling that would open doors for me for screenwriting or writing. I saw myself in Mafatsane Hall, Evaton,South Africa. Attending a Scriptwriters workshop hosted by Writers Guild South Africa( WGSA) with the late Mr Richard H Nosworthy the main tutor. The week long free event was organised to benefit writers from the previously disadvantaged community. That is creative writers in South African who cannot either afford training or access to information about the industry due to their financial background. The guilt also protect the writers rights as many of them in South Africa are freelancers and do not get royalties on work repeated on other platforms of media in the African continent. The guilt was established in 2009 and aims to train more local writers in their South African vernacular language and also helps with their business education planning. They work with International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG) and American Guilt and had been instrumental in getting writers included in the South African Film and Television Awards. Mr Nosworthy was a very paient man as he encourages most of us to believe in ourselves. Knowing that I was a writer for print, he wanted me to know that the very same words written must know be acted out on stage, tv, through music, film or animitation. "The must be a reason why you telling the story," his words as I battled to polished my short film, Holly Gangsters. The film was a test of our knowldge gained from the workshop and if selected stood a chance to be entered in the Muse awards with the overall winner announced at the SAFTAs of that year, 2019. Anyway,I think due to Covid19 WGSA is still to issue me with the certificate and results of the film. Being a passionate writers of what is now going on in South African churches. Especially after my mother's death. The film, Holly Gangsters focused on a family of a woman seeking justice after a man of "God" and congregants conned community members and preyed on those desperate for long term illness healing. Based on my experience and a series of articles that I have written while with main stream media. Mr Nosworthy helped bring the emotions of trust and disgust as I reveal how the grieving family is expected to pay transportation and accommodation for one of their leaders to conduct the service. The family was also not getting anything from the R10 000 funeral burial plan taken by the deceased in the church. Even though, she had constantly paid monthly fees for years. Close members of the family revealed how in the last days the church discouraged her from taking her medication and instead should rely on the water and salt the church was offering for healing.

Stainglass Ifalakhe must return on our screen

I am a South African, but sometimes. I do not understand why South Africans are slow to act sometimes. Especially on the things they love to watch on their television screens. For example, a just a few years ago.The country was treated to the most outstanding 13 episode TV drama, Ifalakhe on Mzansi Magic. The drama had twitter buzzing, crashed facebook pages and walls and had everyone glued on their TV screens that October. Not only to watch the premier of the drama but me as I made my debut as an extra actor.

Yessss!!!! baby, I wasn't gonna make my television appearance a secrete, no matter how small some people thought it was, to me this was a huge step. You can only campare it to your 1st birthday party if you are a milestone celebrator like me. So everyone who knew me, was glued on the screen from the first day waiting for my appearance. I'm talking national newspaper journalists and editors ie your Sunday Times, Sowetan, Business Day,City Press etc. Everybody who knew me back in Port Elizabeth, Alexandra Township, Alberton, Bracken Downs, Soweto knew about my screen debut.

I was not responsible for their expactations though, but this was big to me and worth going all out on self PR. If you wondering what the buzz of the story line was led me fill you up from the press release of Mzansi magic website. Ifalakhe is the story of the powerful Okuhle tribe who wage war against the Khanya people killing their women and children. What makes the situation even more complex is that Khombindlela, the Okuhle king, finds his tribe on the brink of suffering harsh repercussions.

It is true, Ifalakhe was jaw dropping, never seen before story of raging kingdoms, power-hungry kings and their deceptive kin. The spectacular series ws set to enthrall viewers as a dramatic succession of events ensues due to an epic clash between two formidable nations. Ifalakhe season one was created by Stained Glass Productions the story of the powerful Okuhle tribe who wage war against the Khanya people who have been raiding their cattle and killing their women and children. What makes the situation even more complex is that Khombindlela, the Okuhle king, finds his tribe on the brink of suffering harsh repercussions from a prophecy that hangs over his head. This prophecy not only threatens his lineage of the rule of his true heir but also gives him an unnerving task of ensuring it does not come to fruition – heavy indeed is the head that wears the crown!

“The series was set in pre-colonial Southern Africa, which adds a rich texture to the story and makes for, what we feel, is brilliant television,” says Mmamitse Thibedi, Director from production house, Stained Glass. “We’ve worked hard to create an intricate, intriguing plot that highlights the adverse effect of multiple twisted agendas and manipulation of power from the kings themselves and also from characters such as the king’s wives – who have their own selfish ambitions,” she adds.

Starring Bheki Sibiya, Bheki Ngcobo, Chris Radebe and Sthandwa Nzuza the cast of this 13-part drama series focused on ensuring that the authenticity of all the characters is preserved and that the narrative of the era rings true. So that's what the story was about, the main actors were there but we as the extrass were there too. From the day we were on set, we became part of the series, we took pictures to be used later when the drama is on air. So we can have prove that we too were on set.

Truth be told, we were the diamonds that came in small packages. People were used to the main actors and every night they were curious to see us... the no body's who were also in the set and contributed in making the drama alive.

I mean, I had no TV from the day I auditioned for the show until the last episode. But every Sunday, there was a reminder on almost all my socials about the show so that it can generate the necessary or needed viewership. I think everybody assumed from the posts that I had a big tv role. I mean, I was coming from a national newspaper, The Sunday Times so they didn't know you start small in other areas. I've always wanted to try acting since primary. But I had to work on my plan B and C of life first before venturing into art. Reading from past stories and experiences of other South African artists, I had to invest in myself first. Get a drivers license, other qualifications, buy a property and a car, live a normal life before you can take on TV or any public role.

Being an extra on Ifalakhe came at a right time, I was ready knowing how the journalists and everybody will react during and after. Hence I think Stainglass should have another season, yes, isiXhosa sithi into emnandi iyaphindwa guys.

The production company shouldn't leave its viewers hanging, let alone its actors especially its extra special actors. We want Ifalakhe the return baba.