Zabesitu Mpiti-Spies
Nominee's Province:
Eastern Cape
Age:
30
Project Name/Description:
Co-founder: Imbuyiso zoMthonyama
Zabesitu Mpiti-Spies co-founded Imbuyiso zoMthonyama in 2023—a movement aimed at reviving and sustaining rural talent and the arts in the Eastern Cape. She is also the artistic director of the Mthonyama Arts Festival and works as a lecturer, playwright, director, and researcher. “Immersing myself in the arts helped me find my voice and ground my work in cultural reclamation, rural empowerment, and education,” she says. Her move from a small town to the city highlighted the disparity in access to opportunities. “I saw friends give up on their dreams due to lack of support. That’s when I thought: what if we build our own stages instead of waiting to be invited?” Imbuyiso zoMthonyama focuses on unearthing and nurturing talent in the Eastern Cape, where there’s an abundance of creativity but limited platforms and mentorship. “It hurts to see talented artists leave KwaBhaca for the city and lose connection to their roots,” she says. Through the movement and the Mthonyama Arts Festival, she and her team aim to preserve indigenous narratives, develop skills, and economically empower artists. The work also addresses broader social issues like human trafficking, social media exploitation, and the struggles faced by students.
