Shado Twala is a multilateral media practitioner with over 15 years of experience as a print journalist, radio producer & presenter, television producer and presenter.

Her distinctive skill as a communicator was detected in 1989 when she was chosen as the Best Presenter by a national audience which won her a prize to travel to New York to hone her skills on an exchange programme.  In 1994 the Freedom Forum granted her a fellowship member status as well as contributing in varied media workshops at participating institutions in the USA.

Among other achievements, Shado Twala has, on two consecutive years, been the recipient of the Edgars Radio Personality Award.  This has earned her interviews on a variety of International media such as the BBC and NBC.  A jazz educator and collector, Shado has presented to amongst others, the ICASA, “The History of Jazz – the South African Context” as part of their considerations for radio licenses.

Shado has written about, commented on and presented papers on social issues particularly around women abuse, the role of the arts in a developing society as well as participating in democracy education through her work in the media.

She became an entrepreneur in her chosen field of jazz about ten years ago and successfully ran Khano Entertainment, which developed and managed artist careers and produced international and local jazz events throughout the country and the continent of Africa.

With the years of experience in the media, her extensive media network inside and outside the borders of South Africa, Shado brings a wealth of knowledge in the development of communications strategies, designing implementation programmes of these on behalf of her clients.  She is a broadcaster on Cape Talk and serves as Client Services Director for African Projects. 

Career Highlights

Public speaking

Shado has presented numerous speeches and served as Programme Director on events of national significance such as the Human Rights Awards, Trevor Manuel’s Budget Speech Fundraising Dinner, Take a Girl Child to Work Day Launches, participated in an Aids Awareness Media Campaign alongside Tim Modise and Archbishop Desmond Tutu; The Opening of Parliament, The Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign; to mention but a few.