Gcina Mhlope - Freedom Fighter from South Africa

Nokugcina Elsie Mhlope is well-known for her ability to tell a story in a land where the traditional activity is dominated by men in Africa. People come to see her charismatic performances, using her gift as a storyteller to encourage children to read and to keep history alive in South Africa.

Mhlope is fluent in South Africa’s four languages, including Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa and English. There were many reasons that Mhlope choose to become a storyteller, from her grandmother’s amazing tales to growing up listening to the stories of Africa.

She was born in KwaZulu-Natal to a Zulu father and a Xhosa mother. Mhlope began working as a domestic servant but later moved on to work as a newsreader at BBC radio and Press Trust, then wrote for Learn and Teach.

Eventually, she turned to a career as a storyteller, as she realized the demand was there. In Chicago, she was invited back time and time again to a mostly-black neighborhood. Mhlope was inspired by other legendary poets of Africa, like Imbongi and Mannie Manim.

Mhlope is able to weave information, folklore, song, idiom, and current affairs into her stories. She has performed all over the world, in theaters from London to Soweto, and more. In fact, her work is even translated into many languages, like French, German, Swahili, Italian, and Japanese.

Nokugcina Mhlope’s name means “last one” due to the fact that she is the last one born in her family.