Young actor ploughs back

Malibongwe Mdwaba.

The acting industry is often described as being hostile, with many actors citing exploitation and intimidation – as well as limited employment opportunities – among the key challenges in this highly competitive industry.

But Khayelitsha actor Malibongwe Mdwaba, 21, wants to help young actors and musicians in the industry by hosting Indibano, an informative dialogue, at Isivivana Centre in Khayelitsha on Saturday July 6.

The event, themed “Readiness Tools”, will be held in Cape Town for the first time and already has been successfully hosted three times in Joburg.

Mr Mdwaba, who is currently doing an honours degree in Dramatic Arts at Wits university, said through the initiative, he wanted to share tips with up-and-coming artists so that when they enter the industry they would be fully equipped with the required knowledge and skills.

Mr Mdwaba has been featured in number of television productions such as Romeo Romeo, Ubudoda, Isithembiso, Gold Diggers and international TV series MTV Shuga currently playing on SABC 1.

He said while working on these productions he learned new things he wished he had known before entering the industry.

He said the harsh reality was that people thought it was a glamorous industry because of what they see on social media, but do not fully understand the challenges and difficulties. He said through this platform, young people would be able to engage with people in industry.

“There has always been a calling that I should do this here in my home township and see how it would be,” he said.

Mr Mdwaba said in the future he hopes to get a team together to help drive the initiative – even when he is not around.

He said he was targeting marginalised youth and highlighted funding as a critical challenge.

For more information, you can contact Mr Mdwaba at 061 060 1010