Meet the 2022 Distell National Playwright, Sibongakonke Mama

Sibongakonke Mama had never written a play before she submitted her winning work Ibuhlungu le Ndawo and was sincerely shocked to discover she had won the 2022 Distell National Playwright Competition. The win gives her the opportunity of a lifetime to have her very first play staged at the 2023 National Arts Festival.

Sibongakonke was celebrated alongside her fellow finalists Scout Fynn, Nkamogeleng (Nkamo) Lebeloane, Stephanie Jenkins and Nokuthula Mkwanazi when the winning script was announced at an event ceremony at Van Ryn’s Distellery in Stellenbosch, Cape Town.

Distell’s Phumza Rengqe, National Arts Festival’s Nobesuthu Rayi, finalists Scout Fynn and Stephanie Jenkins, Sibongakonke Mama, Monaheng Vice Motshabi, finalists Nkamogeleng Lebeloane and Nokuthula Mkwanazi, National Arts Festival’s Monica Newton and Distell’s Simone Benjamin.

The 33 year old journalist centres her play around the story of three sisters grappling with the death of a parent. Of her billingual English and isiXhosa script, the team of judges and mentors, led by Monaheng ‘Vice’ Motshabi, said it ‘weaves oral tradition, grief, cultural and family history through storytelling, children’s games, and ritual into a moving script.’

Apart from the initial prize of R5 000 awarded to all the finalists, Mama receives a further R20 000 as the overall winner of the competition. The prize includes mentorship in fine-tuning her script and preparing it for the stage.

We’re looking forward to seeing Sibongakonke’s exciting new work on the National Arts Festival stages in 2023. Our sincere thanks to Distell, our partner on this vital and exciting initiative, bringing young voices onto the South African stage.

Calling all Artists for #NAF2023

The Festival has (today) opened a call for works destined for the Fringe. Artists should complete an application form and, as there is no selection process for the Fringe, artists will be advised on the success of their application pending availability and suitability of venues. Although the Festival has resumed its online format, the vNAF digital platform is still a great way to reach audiences, both local and international, at home – and is open for submissions again this year.