Online Reporter
Mbulelo Mpofu, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
THE country’s creative spotlight will shift to Domboshava this August as renowned UK-based lighting designer and educator Mildred “Lighting Bae” Moyo hosts the sixth edition of the Phenomenal Lighting Masterclass and Festival.
The masterclass will bring together lighting designers, sound engineers, performers, and producers, primarily from Zimbabwe and neighbouring Southern African countries. They will receive guidance from an international faculty with experts from the UK, Ghana, Switzerland, and South Africa.
Scheduled for 4 to 10 August, the event has found a vibrant new home in Domboshava at the Ngoma/Ingungu Cultural Arts Centre, moving from its previous base at Gordon Park in the Matopos.
The theme, “Finding Light in Darkness: The Power of Shadows,” sets the tone for an immersive week of blending intensive technical training with dynamic public performances.
“This is not just a workshop. It’s a shift in how we train, create and share stories in Africa. We’re building bridges between generations, regions and continents. The programme provides real-world production experience, creative mentorship and a platform to amplify Southern African voices on the global stage,” said Lighting Bae, founder of Phenomenal Lighting and Power Solutions and a lecturer at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
She said the week will open with orientation on 4 August, followed by hands-on masterclasses from 5-7 August.
Thereafter, Lighting Bae will lead sessions on lighting design, focusing on her signature approach that fuses technical expertise with storytelling artistry.
Other facilitators will include celebrated performer and educator Othnell “Mangoma” Moyo, who will lead the music and movement workshops, and Simbarashe Mazai, director of Prosoundman, who will oversee sound engineering.
The learning will culminate in a two-day public festival showcase on 8 and 9 August, where participants will present collaborative performances developed during the masterclasses. The event will wrap up on 10 August with Teardown
and reflection sessions.
“This is about returning home to grow new roots. We’re not just teaching lighting, we’re nurturing a generation of African storytellers who use light, sound and movement to reflect their realities,” she told Sunday Life.
UK-based Petok Productions, led by Pembe Tokluhan, will co-produce and manage the festival, ensuring it meets international standards while celebrating local artistry.
“We’re thrilled to be building a bridge between creatives in the UK and Southern Africa. This collaboration reflects the future of global production — diverse, inclusive and locally grounded,” said Tokluhan.
Hosting the festival marks a milestone for the newly established Ngoma/Ingungu Cultural Arts Centre. Its founder, Mangoma, an ethnomusicologist, instrument builder and performing artiste, expressed the significance of the partnership.
“We’re honoured to host the Phenomenal Lighting Masterclass and Festival in our first year of operation. Mildred and her team have worked tirelessly to grow this platform and we believe this collaboration will not only elevate the festival but also strengthen ties within our community.
“As a centre specialising in traditional music and dance training, we look forward to the creative exchange this event will bring,” said Mangoma.
Since its inception in 2019, the Phenomenal Lighting Masterclass and Festival has evolved into a leading platform for technical arts education in Southern Africa. Supported in the past by the Culture Fund Zimbabwe (through EU CreativeACTIONs2) and the Zimbabwe-German Society, the festival continues to bridge technical skill with storytelling innovation.
Building on the success of Lighting Bae’s inaugural international virtual masterclass in 2023, this sixth edition reinforces her mission of elevating African storytelling through mentorship, technical excellence and cross-border collaboration.
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