SPU’s Faculty of Humanities, in collaboration with the William Humphreys Art Gallery (WHAG), proudly hosted the When It Rains Public Lecture featuring the legendary Dr Gcina Mhlophe, an award-winning author, storyteller and artist, on Wednesday, 30 July 2025.
The atmosphere was filled with anticipation as SPU students and staff and members of the community gathered to hear from one of South Africa’s most treasured cultural voices. In his welcoming remarks, Prof Victor Teise, Acting Director of the Centre for Creative Writing and African Languages, expressed the deep honour of hosting Dr Mhlophe, describing her presence at SPU as “greatness in our midst.”
Mr Makgato Chepape, Chief Curator at WHAG, introduced Dr Mhlophe as a global cultural ambassador who, like Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa, Miriam Makeba and Esther Mahlangu, has carried South Africa’s rich artistic heritage to the world. He also reflected on the importance of partnerships between WHAG and SPU and expressed a strong desire for future collaborations that empower and uplift local communities.
Mr Chepape noted that since her arrival in Kimberley, Dr Mhlophe had already begun engaging with local youth, visiting schools such as Pescodia High School, Isago Primary School and Kevin Nkoane Primary School. There, she spoke passionately to learners and educators about the transformative power of reading, writing and storytelling.
In her address, Dr Mhlophe shared wisdom drawn from her life’s journey and the challenges she has overcome. She paid tribute to educators and highlighted the essential role of education in societal progress: “Education is the way. How can we fight for our freedom but leave education behind?”
She emphasised the enduring value of oral traditions, stating that the stories we inherit and pass on are the threads that hold our nation together.
“The Northern Cape is known for its rich wealth, but none of this wealth belongs to its people. We must realise that true wealth is in the people, in the province’s richness in stories, languages and cultures. That is what we must work together to preserve.”
Dr Mhlophe reflected on the empowering nature of storytelling, saying: “Our stories are always empowering. Every living being has a story to tell, and I tell stories to wake up stories in other people.”
She closed with a powerful reminder of the connection between storytelling and national identity: “A nation is as weak or as powerful as the stories they choose to tell themselves or one another.”
During the Q&A session, the audience asked thoughtful questions, including how indigenous storytelling might intersect with artificial intelligence. Dr Mhlophe acknowledged the inevitability of AI but stressed the importance of approaching it with a strong sense of identity and purpose. When asked whether storytelling is an innate talent or a learned skill, she noted that while some are born storytellers, storytelling is also a craft that can be nurtured. In response to what advice she would give her younger self, she said: stay true to who you are, avoid harmful substances and don’t overthink the future.
Dr Mhlophe’s message was a compelling call to action – to use our talents and knowledge in service of our communities and to honour the beauty and diversity of our cultures.
SPU is proud to have been the platform for this important dialogue on storytelling as a means of preserving heritage, language, and identity. As a university named after the renowned writer, journalist, and linguist Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje, SPU remains committed to advancing his legacy by creating spaces for intellectual and cultural exchange that strengthen and connect our communities through literature.
