Filmmaker, producer, and playwright Duma Ndlovu is set to bring the story of the Balobedu rainmaker Queen Modjadji to life in Mzansi Magic’s new drama series.
In a wide-ranging interview with Sunday World this week, Ndlovu said he got inspired by his mother to be a storyteller.
Listened to bedtime stories
“I grew up in Soweto and every night we would listen to stories that my mother would tell us. Sometimes I sit and think of stories that my mother used to tell us. I think she was a great storyteller,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu began writing at the age of 12 and was fascinated by writers such as Sibusiso Nyembezi. Unfortunately he lost some of the scripts he wrote during the time when security branches invaded and raided his home.
He dropped out of school after failing Grade 11 and was too embarrassed to go back because he was part of the school leadership. He later found himself in a six week journalism course thinking it was a scholarship to travel.
Discovered his writing skills at The World newspaper
“At the end of the six weeks The World newspaper wanted the top three writers. And that was how I got into newspaper writing. At work they would rave about what a brilliant writer I was, but I never thought I was such a big deal.”
He reveals that he writes for about eight hours a day. The stories he writes are life experiences and things he runs into in his own life.
“I have a collective of experiences that I could tap into for the rest of my life. And I also have a touch of the rural background. I have always loved culture, although I grew up in Soweto.
Writing gave him skills to write for TV and all mediums
“By the time you write for television you have a particular sense of story. It is not somebody else’s sense of story. But what makes sense to you. When I started writing for newspapers I was 19. And I made a decision not to define myself by other people.”
Ndlovu said he learnt from journalism to proof-read his work, which he still does to date. It is not to check for mistakes, but to hear his voice and the story.
