Sibusiso Khwinana
Sibusiso Khwinana (1993-2019). Actor, playwright, director and theatre maker.
Contents
Biography
Born on 31 July 1993, Khwinana grew up in Soshanguve, a Pretoria township.
Affectionately known to many as “Sobi Dikuku” or “Sbu/Sbuda/Sbuda-Man”.
Khwinana died in Arcadia in 2019 following a fatal stabbing that took place shortly after he was spotted attending a screening of Matwetwe at Sterland Mall, Pretoria. At the time of his tragic death, he was studying to become a director and producer, pursuing a diploma in Film and Television at Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
In 2013, Khwinana was the founder and artistic director of a community organisation focused on theatre and based in Pretoria, called Blank Page Entertainment. He was also a founding member of the Independent Theatre Makers Movement. He was also co-founder of the Station Theatre in Pretoria.
Upon matriculation from school, he was selected to be a part to the South African State Theatre’s department of arts and culture sponsored incubator programme, Youth in Trust (YIT) where he studied for two years. Under the programme, Khwinana wrote and directed his public theatre debut, Amend (2014). The production served as commentary on the vile nature of homophobia and the use of corrective rape in townships. He also worked on other productions at the theatre house such as Angola, Biko, and a rendition of The Crucible.
He was one of the leading actors in Kagiso Lediga’s film Matwetwe (2019).
Awards, Honours
The Momentum Theatre at the South African State Theatre was renamed Sibusiso Khwinana Theatre in his memory in June of 2019.
Sources
Zaza Hlalethwa. 'Curtain closes prematurely on theatre maker Sibusiso Khwinana'. Mail & Guardian. 4 March 2019.
Robyn Sassen. 'Hope and dreams of Sibusiso Khwinana: A tribute'. 13 June 2020. https://robynsassenmyview.com/2020/06/13/hope-and-dreams-of-sibusiso-khwinana-a-tribute/
Katlego Chill. 'The Consciousness of an Independent Theatre Maker'. Culture Review. 30 December 2019.
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