Lebo Mashile has been forging her own creative identity since she emerged on the Johannesburg arts scene in 2002. She has numerous creative titles including published author, executive producer, actress, poet, independent record producer, corporate and independent event MC, life skills facilitator/speaker and television series presenter. In all her creative roles, it is Mashile's sharp intellect, questioning mind and fiercLebo takes on social debate and it is reflected in her continually increasing body of work. In 2004 she debuted as a film actress in the Academy Award Nominated Hotel Rwanda, directed by Terry George, which illuminated the tragic 1994 genocide of the Tutsi and Hutu moderates in Rwanda. Also in 2004, Mashile became executive producer and presenter of the SABC 1 documentary series L'Atitude, which aired for three seasons. This put Mashile on a nationwide road trip in exploration and discovery of the position occupied by South Africans, the spaces they inhabit and the roles they play in the landscape of a developing South Africa.
Since 2004, Lebo has been touring the globe, representing South Africa in performances as far afield as Irelanc, Switzerland and Cuba.
In 2005, Mashile published with Struik and Mutloatse Arts Trust, her first collection of poetry In A Ribbon of Rhythm, which won her the prestigious NOMA Award for Publishing in Africa for 2006. To complement for collection of poetry, Mashile self produced and released a 19 track album, Lebo Mashile Live!, which combines the musical mix of poetry with hip-hop, house and R&B. The album was released on her independent label, Mashile Productions, and was recorded live with a nine piece band in addition to studio collaborations with artists such as MXO, Tumi Molekane of Tumi and the Volume and Zubz.
In March 2003, Mashile co-founded the Feela Sistah Spoken Word Collective alongside Napo Masheane, Ntsiki Mazwai and Myesha Jenkins. This ground breaking foursome was the first poetry collective of its kind in South Africa.
Lebo Mashile was named by COSMOPOLITAN Magazine, as one of South Africa's Awesome Women of 2005 and her stunning smile and captivating insights and interviews have been featured in numerous publications such as, TRUE LOVE where she writes a feature column, YMAG, MARIE CLAIRE, ELLE, O magazine, Real Magazine, Afrorootz, CITY PULSE for City Press, SOWETAN, MAIL & GUARDIAN, ROOTZ, NEWSWEEK and SUNDAY TIMES MAGAZINE.
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
2007:
- Performed at the World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, as part of a delegation formed by the Centre for Creative Arts
- Performed at Banulacht's celebrations of International Women's Day in Dublin, Ireland
- Performed in Havana, Cuba at the 12th Annual International Havana Poetry Festival, as part of a delegation led by the poet Laureate of South Africa, Professor Keorapetse Kgositsile
- Performed at Sunday Times Book Awards and Cape Town Book Fair
- Began writing a column entitled "In Her Shoes" for True love magazine
- Named one of the top women in South Africa by the Mail & Guardian for the second year in a row.
- Named one of the top 100 young South Africans to have lunch with by the Mail & Guardian for the second year in a row.
- Collected the NOMA Award for Publishing in Africa at the University of Botswana in Gaborone, Botswana.
- Appeared as guest presenter of Getting Away with Murder, a documentary for SABC1 dealing with the role of the media during Apartheid.
- Awarded City Press Woman of Prestige Award.
2006:
- Executive producer and presenter for the third season of original television series L’Atitude
- Official spokesperson for the (Ogilvy & Mather) Dawn Voice Out Nationwide Poetry Competition.
- Winner of the prestigious NOMA Award for African Publishing
- Performer in World Cup Ceremonies in Germany
- Performer in Vienna, Austria as part of the Litreture in March Writers Conference.
- Guest Speaker/Panelist for SABCAfrica Discussion Forum, “Is there a true African Story?”
- Performed at the Fleur de Cap Awards at the Baxter Theater in Capetown
- Performed at the Spier Arts Festival in Capetown
- Guest Speaker on MTV Base with Prime Minister Tony Blair
2005:
- Published debut collection of poetry, In A Ribbon of Rhythm, which featured in Exclusive Books’ Homebru campaign.
- Released self-produced debut album, Lebo Mashile Live! on her own independent record label, Mashile Productions
- Executive produced and presented the second season of original television series L’Atitude
- Appeared in the Academy Award nominated film, Hotel Rwanda
2004:
- Performed at Thabo Mbeki’s Presidential Inauguration in Pretoria
- Official performance delegate in Kingston, Jamaica and Havana, Cuba in honor and celebration of ten years of democracy.
- Nominated for the prestigious Daimler Chrysler Award for South African poetry.
- Performed internationally in Bern, Switzerland at the Schlacthaus Festival of South African Contemporary Art.
- Attended the Yarri Yarri Phambari Writers Conference in New York City with African American writers such as Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Maryse Conde, Nawal el Saadawi and Patricia McFadden
- Executive produced and presented the first season of original television series L’Atitude
- Performed at Poetry Africa in Durban as part of the Feela Sistah Spoken Word Collective
2003:
- Toured Germany performing in Berlin, Kiel, Bremen, Hamburg and Sylt on behalf of the Sylt Quelle Arts Foundation
- Performed at Poetry Africa Poetry Festival in Durban on behalf of the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of Natal
- Co-founded the Feela Sistah Spoken Word Collective
- Performed at the Bassline with Feelah Sistah Spoken Word Collective
- Appeared in Roses and Angels directed by Pamela Nomvete and written by Reshoketswe Maredi.
- Featured on the Rage Expressions CD, a CD compilation of hip-hop and poetry from Johannesburg artists (see www.rage.co.za)
2002:
- Performed at Urban Voices Spoken Word and Music Festival in Newtown, Johannesburg
- Performed at Robben Island, Cape Town in honor of esteemed writer Chinua Achebe.
- Facilitated workshops at Robben Island, Cape Town on using poetry as a means of preserving the identity of Robben Island.
- Awarded one of fifteen associateships for African women at the African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town
Performed in London England at South Africa House as a part of the Connecting Flights Initiative on behalf of the British Council.
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