Young Artist's Drive For Social Change

 By Emmanuel Kaitano

Blog Banner by Lynelle Clark

As a musician, actor and playwright, Tshidiso Edwin Phansi, also known as Dj Moody P, is the definition of a multi-hyphenate. But growing up, his dream was to be a musician. “I just didn’t see how I could use drama to contribute to society,” he says.

It wasn’t until 2011 that he realized he could use his passion for storytelling to push for social change in his community.

“l gathered children from ages ten to fifteen,” he said. “I needed them to tell the stories that they felt needed to be heard.”

As an actor, he’s known for his role in Mzansi Magic drama Abafana Abathathu. And as a playwright, he has centered township children’s stories in his work. Most notably in his popular play, “Oliver”. A social drama of a young boy who tells his peers on how he saw his father left and never came back home. Only to realise that all of them encountered the same predicament.

In most of his plays, Moody P offers his audience a chance to learn about the challenges young children are facing. Also, how they’re expecting change.

“I cannot say I know how to deal with these issues,” he says. “But there are children who wake up every day and face such challenges. Pushing their way through a world that’s pushing against them, and we are becoming their voice to the community through drama.”

Moody P says, lack of funding and opportunity has made it hard for his crew to stage their work in other parts of the region. But by working hand in glove with local companies like Naka Le Phuthang Funeral Insurance, he hopes to close the gap.

“I’m inspired by the children that l have been able to champion,” he says. “Their focus and courage on the stories they’re telling is amazing.

In the next five years, Moody P would like to see Mzansi Arts crew expand beyond the region and taking more children off the streets.

“We have a lot of stories and only us can tell them.” he said.