DR Kgafela oa Magogodi | Academia | Theatre | Meadowlands | Spoken Word | Music | Teaching |Marabele

He is a Kwai-Jazz poet, Spoken Word Theatre Director, film scholar and academic based in the Wits School of Dramatic Arts where he is a part-time lecturer in African Cinema and Oral Performance and Rap/Dub Poetry Studies. Magogodi has presented his work worldwide and remains a prolific producer of poems, short stories, audio recordings and live shows. His poems have been published in Poetry International, Laugh it Off, New Coin, Upbeat Magazine, Homeless Talk and the Journal of African Literature.

Dr Kgafela oa Magogodi’s experimental work with stand-up poetry, spoken-word theatre and essay writing has travelled globally. Working comfortably in both Setswana and English, he has been translated into various languages including German, Dutch, French and Catalan. Key publications include Thy Condom Come (2000) and Outspoken (2004), as well as Wunderhorn (2013), a book and CD anthology of poetry by eight South Africa poets. He has worked extensively in the theatre, as both a director and leader of spoken-word workshops that mix character development, storytelling, interpretive dance and political text. He wrote a stage play titled The Book of Rebellations, in collaboration with Monageng Vice Motshabi. Following his spoken word and music album Bua Fela (2008), He leads the band Kgafela le Marabele. Magogodi’s spoken-word film, I Mike What I Like, directed by Jyoti Mistry, has been shown in numerous film festivals across the world. Itchy City, the video poem from the film that is included in the present DVD, was showcased in Afropolis, an exhibition on African megacities launched in 2010 at the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum (Cologne).

Dr Kgafela oa Magogodi has completed his PhD thesis, entitled 'TALKING B(L)ACK: Black Images in the Making of Black Cinema in South Africa'.

He is a multifaceted storyteller, playwright, and director. His acclaimed works, such as “Chilahaebolae,” “Song of Nongoma,” “Book of Rebellations,” “uNosilimela,” and “Devil on the Cross,” have graced prominent stages including Wits Theatre, State Theatre, Olive Tree Theatre, Soweto Theatre, Market Theatre, and Funda Centre. Magogodi’s illustrious career includes fellowships at Literarisches Colloquium, New York University, the African Freedom Station, and Ecole Cantonale d’Art du Valais. Currently, he devotes his expertise to Wits School of Arts, facilitating practicums in playwriting, directing, and spoken word theatre. He is also a dedicated associate of Blackhouse Kollective, facilitating annual workshops for youth eager for Afrocentric knowledge.

Recently, Dr. Magogodi brought to life an inspiring project by constructing an open theatre space, GaMmatsello, in Mocoseng village, Mahikeng. Here, he trains young enthusiasts in the performing arts, nurturing the next generation of storytellers. This project, a testament to his dedication as an independent playmaker, showcases his unwavering commitment to cultivating Afrocentric narratives.