Alumni 2019

Mkhululi Sibanda Thobela is a visual Journalist and documentarian interested in contemporary issues such as common laborers, human migration, human rights violations, political history and social injustice. Thobela seeks psychological, compositional and aesthetics elements when photographing subjects to bring out meaning and emotion of human life. The relationship created between the photograph and the viewer continues to shape Thobela’s photography. It is in this relationship between the viewer and the elements in the image, which he feels may instigate change, respect of rule of law as well as bring about capacity enhancement projects in communities. Because of his interest in humanitarianism, Thobela did charity work for two years with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in South Africa, Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe where he gained a good understanding of human diversity and respect for cultural differences. In 2010, he enrolled for a Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurship at the University of South Africa, because of financial constraints Thobela couldn’t finish his studies however with the knowledge he gained he managed to build Muki Express Digital Solutions Pvt Ltd, a media business in Zimbabwe which is operational. Thobela completed a course in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography with The Market Photo Workshop where he nurtured his skills in visual literacy, visual culture, creative writing, conceptual and technical skills in the practice of photography. As part of the Photojournalism and Documentary Photography course, he was hand-picked to intern in a collaboration between The Market Photo Workshop, Miss Drag South Africa 2019 and OUT LGBTQI+ Well-Being where he was assigned to document 9 finalists of The Miss Drag South Africa 2019 pageant living in 5 provinces of South Africa. His work was published with the Sowetan Live, MambaGirl News(Cape Town) and a compilation of a multimedia and printed images were exhibited at Pretoria State Theatre. Thobela is currently documenting the life of young girls living in conflict with drugs and gangsterism in the Cape Flats, Cape Town. He wishes to pursue a documentary on the Dunga people living between the bothers of Zimbabwe and Zambia who are born with a foot disability.