Online Reporter
Langalihle Mhiti
Zimpapers Entertainment Hub
ZIMBABWEAN playwright, screenwriter, choreographer and director Thembelihle Moyo has carved a distinctive space for himself in the creative industry.
She is using storytelling to connect cultures, languages and generations.
From Bulawayo’s renowned Amakhosi Arts Academy to artistic and academic spaces in British Columbia, Canada, Moyo has built a career centred on community, cultural preservation and socially conscious storytelling.
Her creative journey has seen her work across Ndebele, Shona, Zulu, Xhosa and English, allowing her to explore themes of identity, power, migration, cultural expectations and the resilience of African women.
Moyo said her multilingual approach to storytelling was deeply connected to her desire to ensure African experiences remained visible and relevant on global stages.
“I want young writers to know their languages, histories and lived experiences are fully worthy of global literature and stage,” she said.
A major influence on Moyo’s career has been the late Amakhosi founder and theatre legend Cont Mhlanga, whom she regards as an important mentor in her artistic development.
Reflecting on Mhlanga’s influence, Moyo said his approach to theatre taught her to view art as more than entertainment, but as a tool for community engagement and social transformation.
“The lessons I received from Cont Mhlanga continue to shape how I understand theatre, leadership and the responsibility that comes with telling our stories,” she said.
Moyo has also expanded her creative work beyond theatre, venturing into television and screenwriting while continuing to explore the relationship between performance, culture and identity.
Her body of work includes productions such as ‘I Want to Fly’, ‘Who Said I Don’t Want to Dance’, ‘The Prophetic Place’ and ‘It’s Just Black Hair.’
The projects have allowed her to interrogate personal and societal issues through performance.
For Moyo, documenting African cultural practices is equally important, particularly traditional dance forms that risk being forgotten as generations change.
She has used choreography and storytelling to preserve Zimbabwean dance traditions while presenting them in ways that can speak to contemporary audiences.
“Documenting our dance traditions is about preserving memory, but it is also about giving young people a connection to who they are and where they come from,” she said.
Her work has also been shaped by experiences of migration and navigating different cultural and academic environments.
Rather than viewing movement between countries and creative spaces as a limitation, Moyo has turned it into an opportunity to create conversations between African communities and international audiences.
She is also passionate about creating opportunities for emerging African creatives, particularly young writers who often struggle to find platforms for their work.
Looking ahead, Moyo is working on forthcoming projects including ‘LOZIKEYI – The Queen’s Revolt and The Drifters’, which are expected to further demonstrate her commitment to African-centred storytelling.
Through theatre, television, choreography and screenwriting, Moyo continues to use the arts as a bridge between generations and cultures.
Her journey from Bulawayo to British Columbia demonstrates how Zimbabwean stories can travel beyond borders without losing their cultural identity, while her continued advocacy for language and heritage places African voices at the centre of her creative vision.
