Lwazi Xaba

Lwazi Xaba (19**-2016) was a Durban based musician, poet, storyteller, actor and photographer.

Also known as also known as "King Zorro" or simply "Zorro" in Durban.

Biography

A native of Estcourt in rural KwaZulu-Natal and later resident in Umlazi in Durban, he is basically a self-taught artist, poet and performer.

Sadly, he passed away in 2016.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

He started out his arts career by getting involved in poetry and dance performances, inter alia at the Poetry Africa Festival, later became a self-taught photographer.

He is a founding member of the Durban poetry collective Nowadayz Poets and was a participant of Poetry Africa 2007.

His theatrical career began at the Stable Theatre in Durban, where he was part of the cast of the production of Kwabulawayo ( the story of King Shaka Zulu), followed by numerous productions and projects. Among them the Playhouse-staged production, Nomkhubulane, and - a highlight - the improvisational piece The Hungry, in which he acted with the creators, Ellis Pearson and Bheki Mkhwane (2006).

He also travelled with storytelling projects to schools in areas like Wentworth, Umlazi, Cato Manor and KwaMashu as well as the inner city, and was involved in projects like the Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience..

As a photographer held an exhibition called Abantu at the Citizen in Florida Road, Durban, in 2009 and again in 2011 at the Durban Art Gallery. In 2013 he had another exhibtion, called Abantwana, at the National Arts Festival.