LEBOHANG OUPA MALEKA

BIOGRAPHY OF: LEBOHANG OUPA MALEKA DATE OF BIRTH: 1989-05-08 PLACE OF BIRTH: TEMBISA NICKNAME: @RT-PR0F3T EDUCATION: JIYANA SECONDARY SCHOOL

_BACKGROUND_

I was born in the dusty streets of Tembisa, raised by a single parent __Anna Maleka_ who worked as a domestic worker then. I started school at Gahlanso Primary School in 1996 and then in 2003 I went to Jiyana Senior Secondary School.

I fell in love with Performing Art at the age of 7 years while I was doing grade 2, I performed in many school plays/ musicals including; _"AIDS E WELE",_ "ISIZWE SIYAPHELA" and many more... I was also part of the community theatre group in my township (Ivory Park) and in 1999 if I'm not mistaken, I went to the auditions held by an organization called, _"SITHUTHUKA SISONKE DRAMA PLAYERS"_and by God's grace and mercy with my little knowledge in the performing art industry I got a call of acceptance and I must admit that call turned my world around.

In _SSDP_ was also selected to be part of the productions titled, "INXUBEVANE" that toured nationally and was also staged at _THE MONUMENT THEATRE _ in The National Art Festival (Grahamstown) and the protest/ awareness play titled, _"SEKWANELE"_ and so forth. In 2005 I started my own group called, "THE RHYTHM" it collapsed due to the financial hurdles, then I joined _"SIYANQOBA THEATRE PROJECT"_ where I was appointed as an *Artistic Director* and that's when I realized that I have the Gift of Script Writing.

"LIVING INTHE DARKNESS. "

My first play was titled, _"LIVING IN THE DARKNESS"_it took my artistic perspection to the next level I wrote many stage plays after it including, _"MBAMBENI, THE CURSE, THE SHOEMAKER, UNHLIZIYO EMNYAMA, NO! NOT MY SON, CHILDREN OF ASAZI, UMFOWETHU KA BABA etc..."_

I was also cast in many professional theatre productions at The Market Theatre, State Theatre & Joburg Theatre. I was also offered a job as a Choreographer by the City of Johannesburg Carnival Consortium and I also wrote a number of screen plays.

CONCLUSION I have produced many professional local actors and drama graduates through the knowledge & expertise that I have aquired through my artistic path. And my dream as an artist is for young gifted upcoming artists to always aim the sky, so that they can fall somewhere where the grass is more greener.

MY QUOTE: "Where Performing Art is concerned even too much creativity is not enough, so always strive to take the world and put it on stage/ camera"