She Defines Soul.Substance.Style (No. 002): Lebogang Mashile

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Written By: MIM!—An icon of modern South African poetry, Lebogang ("Lebo") Mashile is also a performer, actress, presenter, and producer who has been forging her creative identity since she emerged onto Johnnesburg's art scene in 2002. In 2003, she co-founded the Feela Sistah! Spoken Word Collective which was the first poetry collective of its kind in South Africa. In 2004, Lebo debuted as a film actress in the Academy Award Nominated Hotel Rwanda. That year she also toured nationally performing at prestigious events such as Thabo Mbeki’s Presidential Inauguration, and the Schlacthaus Festival of South African Contemporary Art. In 2005, Lebo published her first collection of poetry, In A Ribbon Of Rhythm. In the same year Lebo independently produced and released a 19-track album, Lebo Mashile Live!, which combines poetry with hip-hop, house and R&B. With a successful track record, Lebo's position as a powerful wordsmith has earned her national, as well as international, acclaim.

Find inspiration with this woman who defines Soul.Substance.Style at lebomashile.com and nominate someone or yourself as a woman of Soul.Substance.Style by sending an e-mail to mimimagazineonline[at]gmail.com.

EDITED: Take a look at MIMI writer Belinda Otas' write-up about Lebo: Lebogang Mashile: The South African Soul With A Rhythm

(Photo Credits: Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal)