Motivational
Based: Johannesburg
Napo Masheane is an award-winning South African poet, playwright, theatre director, producer, performer, author and cultural activist, celebrated for her powerful storytelling and her ability to give voice to African experiences, particularly the stories of women.
Born in Soweto and raised in Qwaqwa in the Free State, Napo’s creative work is deeply influenced by African oral traditions, Sesotho language and culture, identity and the stories passed between generations. She holds qualifications in Marketing Management and Speech & Drama and later completed a Master’s degree in Creative Writing at Rhodes University.
Napo was a founding member of the groundbreaking Feela Sista! Spoken Word Collective, alongside prominent voices including Lebo Mashile, Ntsiki Mazwai and Myesha Jenkins. Her acclaimed theatrical works include My Bum Is Genetic, Deal With It and The Fat Black Women Sing, productions that helped establish her as an important contemporary voice in South African theatre and spoken word.
Her work has taken her to stages and creative institutions across South Africa, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Réunion, and she has collaboratedated with organisations including the Market Theatre, South African State Theatre, Royal Court Theatre in London, British Council and National Arts Festival.
Highlights & Awards
Napo was nominated for the DaimlerChrysler South African Poetry Award in 2005, named among the Mail & Guardian Top 100 Young South Africans in 2007, and became the inaugural winner of the Mbokodo Award for Theatre in 2012. She also received a Pan African Language Award and has been recognised with a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA).
She also made history as the first Black woman to write, produce and direct a play on the Market Theatre’s John Kani main stage, with her production A New Song.
Napo Masheane as a Speaker
As a speaker, Napo combines poetry, storytelling, performance and lived experience, creating presentations that are emotionally engaging and distinctly different from a conventional keynote. Her work explores identity, women’s empowerment, heritage, leadership, resilience, finding one’s voice and the transformative power of storytelling.
Her ability to move between the roles of speaker, storyteller and poet makes her particularly suited to corporate conferences, women’s events, leadership programmes, cultural celebrations and events seeking an authentic African voice.
Speaking Themes: Women & Leadership • Finding Your Voice • African Storytelling • Identity & Belonging • Resilience • Creativity • Cultural Heritage • Transformation • Empowerment
Ideal for: Corporate Conferences • Women’s Events • Heritage & Cultural Events • Leadership Programmes • Storytelling Experiences • Conferences & Gala Events
