Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
Award-winning dancer, Anele Sithole says he owes every bit of his success to one woman, his mother, Florence Tshabalala.
Sithole, a vibrant member of the internationally acclaimed Inkululeko Yabatsha School of Arts (Iyasa) and the reigning Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAA) Best Male Dancer, opened up in a deeply emotional interview about how his mother not only raised him, but also rescued him from a life that could have easily been lost to the streets.
“If it wasn’t for my mother, I wouldn’t be here today. Everything I am, everything I’ve achieved, it’s all because of her.
She always believed in me, encouraged me to stay focused, and kept me grounded in the pursuit of my dreams,” Anele said.
Florence Tshabalala is no stranger to the stage herself. A respected traditional dancer, actress and leader of the Thandanani Women’s Ensemble, she has spent decades performing. But her greatest role, she says, has been being a mother.
“He grew up in an environment where drugs and substance abuse were everywhere. I knew I had to be firm. I refused to let him follow that path,” she shared.
She raised her children in Bulawayo’s Matshobana suburb, an area plagued by youth addiction and social decay. But while others fell victim to peer pressure, Anele thrived under his mother’s watchful eye.
“She took me under her wing and nurtured my talent. There were gangs, drugs and dangerous distractions all around us. But she stood firm. I’m glad I listened.”
Even as a young boy, Anele showed signs that he would one day take to the stage.
“I started my professional career in 1990 and Anele was just a little boy. He would carry my bags, follow me to performances, and watch me from backstage. I always felt his presence, his passion. It was clear the arts had chosen him,” his mother said.
When Anele finally declared his intention to become a dancer, she did not hesitate.
“I supported him the way any mother should, fully. I knew what the industry required and I made sure he was ready,” she said.
Her support was not in vain. Today, Anele is not only living his dream, but building a legacy. He has toured the world with Iyasa, collected accolades, and continues to support his wife and children through his craft.
“As a mother, it’s fulfilling to watch your child become the best version of themselves. I’ve never seen him do drugs, never watched him lose his way. I feel I’ve done my job,” she said.
Anele now stands tall, on stage and in life, as a responsible father, a successful artiste and most of all, a son who never forgot the hand that raised him.
“She’s my lighthouse. In every performance, I carry her spirit with me,” he said.
