Cont Mhlanga

Writer/Director

Cont Mdladla Mhlanga is a playwright, actor and theatre director. His career in the cultural and creative industries began in 1982 when formed Amakhosi which started as a youth karate club but switched to professional theatre in 1988.

The Amakhosi Performing Arts Workshop (APAW) produced and toured with theatre plays written and directed by Mhlanga. In 1995 Amakhosi established the country’s first privately-owned cultural centre located within the boundaries of the townships in Bulawayo.

Mhlanga has written more than 20 plays which include The Good President, The End, Sinjalo, Children on Fire, Games and Bombs, Members only, Workshop Negative and Vikela. Cont has three books to his name including the play “Nansi leNdoda” a former A level set book and “Ngakade Ngisazi” a collection of short stories.

He adapted this theatre play Stitsha for television and it became a series featuring the late Beater Mangethe on ZBC TV. The TV drama was tension and struggle between Thuli played by Beaterand her tough on-screen brother, Mopho. The narrative was hugely Zimbabwean showcasing compelling Zimbabwean stories by Zimbabweans.

Another of his plays Sinjalo explored everyday challenges in the life of two friends, Sakhamuzi (Ndebele) and Foromani. (Shona) a narrative that sought to teach the world that both Ndebele and Shona people of Zimbabwe could live together as friends with no enmity and prejudice.

Cont has contributed tremendously to the arts industry. He has used his literary and creative prowess to champion the human rights cause as well as articulating the socio-economic and political situation in Zimbabwe. Through Amakhosi he has helped to discover and mentor some of the country’s talented artists including Ba Shupi, Sandra Ndebele, Sarah Mpofu, Raisedon Baya and William Nyandoro.

Mhlanga an accomplished actor himself starred as Mtutureli Niekwuin an anti-apartheid movie A World Apart which was released in 1988.

He also created and developed ‘Friday Live at Amakhosi’ a television show on ZBC where live music bands would perform and competitions such as Dreams to Fame also discovered young talent as they targetted up-and-coming artists.

His work in theatre and film made him the first recipient of a prize called the ArtVenture Freedom to Create Prize, awarded by a philanthropic organisation funded by a private investment group in Singapore. Cont is thus a true living legend who has contributed significantly to the development of the arts in the country as a writer, director, actor, mentor and administrator.— NACZ.