Zama Patricia Mkhize, 30, a creative and arts admin- istrator based in Pretoria, draws from a life richly textured by language and movement. Born in Kagiso, Krugersdorp, she grew up in a Zulu-speaking house- hold while navigating school in Sepedi. Her writing voice emerged through English, making her multi- lingual and attuned to the nuance of expression. Her dreams of being a dancer or psychologist now live in her work: emotionally resonant performances and meaningful community engagement. At the heart of her work is production administration — from artist database management to branding, marketing, content creation and social media curation. She also secures sponsorships and fund- ing to keep projects afloat. Zama is active in awareness campaigns for endometriosis and substance abuse, and she educates patients as a sessional care worker for a renal company. She studied public relations at Tshwane North College and completed courses in coaching, mentor- ship and business communication. Her accolades include Best Hip-Hop Dancer at the 2025 Mzansi Art and Media Awards, Best Dance Group at the 2024 MAMA Awards, and a finalist spot at Poetry Africa 2023.
My late grandmother remains a mentor — the only person who ever believed in talent. She taught that age, limited resources, or even close family members cannot prevent someone from living their purpose or reaching their goals.