By Mpho Modiba
Marlon Magigwane Khoza is a writer, actor producer and avid reader from Namakgale. He is married and blessed with three beautiful girls.
The 44-year-old multi-talented was born in The Oaks village and relocated to Namakgale at the age of five with his late mother Francinah Khoza.
The aspiring actor developed his acting passion when he was at Rethabile Primary School.
“I participated in various school plays and sketches before meeting Pule Mabe the current ANC NEC member and former Spokesperson of ANC who introduced me to the community theatre group under the directorship of Vusi Nkosi,” he stated.
Khoza became dedicated to community development until he got his breakthrough when he met the late Thobela FM presenter Mahuma Paul Rapetsoa in 1999 whom he worked with for almost a year.
“Before working with Rapetsoa I initiated a community theatre group called Impilo Yethu in Phalaborwa. Foskor Mine gave us a space to practice our craft at Phosphate Community Centre and became their main sponsor”
He wrote his first play called ‘Mshengu Is Burning’. The show gave him accolades of the Best Script Writer Award in two separate festivals in Limpopo and Gauteng at Windybrow Theatre during the National Stop Crime Drama Festival. He also participated in the Market Theatre community festival. He presented a couple of shows including Sekwatlapa. These shows got him other accolades such as the Zwakala festival award and the Naledi theatre award.
He wrote two Radio drama series for Munghana Lonene FM called kufikelarini and Hitakolwa. He currently has a national touring play called Marabastad The Musical, which to date is the biggest production ever produced, ensembling 25 talented artists with a five-piece live band. Apart from Marabastad The Musical, Khoza has just launched his hard-hitting play called Teacher which is talking about sexual abuse of learners by teachers.
He is the author of two books called Goodbye Blantyre, an assortment of short stories and an anthology of poems called Slanted Justice. The two books were published by Vhakololo Press. The books are available in stores and also can be bought directly from him.
Khoza has a passion for promoting the Arts and this gave birth to the annual Bushbuckridge Arts Festival and Marabastad Jazz Festival. His holding company is Khwerha Ye Afrika Projects. It promotes artistic work.
He said that he plans to host a multidisciplinary Phalaborwa Arts Festival. He says it is time to plough back where he comes from. He hopes to give the children of Phalaborwa a platform to showcase their talents. He says this will not only help identify new talent that will be nurtured but also revive the arts in the once vibrant township and surrounding villages. He is hoping to headline national artists from Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Gauteng.
The festival will be held from 15 to 17 December 2023. He adds that parents should allow their children to explore their talents and support them.
