BY: MAGADU MASHUDU
LEGENDARY author, storyteller, and actress Dr Gcina Mhlophe is motivated to do more at 65 after she was conferred with a doctoral degree for the eighth time. The Internationally acclaimed storyteller from Hammarsdale, west of Durban, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Visual and Performing Arts by Durban University of Technology (DUT).
She was conferred at the DUT 2024 Autumn Graduation ceremony held at the Olive Convention Centre, Durban, on Tuesday, 28 May. Dr Mhlophe has received honorary doctorates from several institutions of higher learning, including the Open University in the United Kingdom, UKZN, the University of Johannesburg, and Rhodes University. The author said she was grateful to have
received her honorary doctorate when she was in good spirits and good health.
“I’ll look at this date, 28 May 2024, as a historic and seminal point in my life when I’m honoured with a doctorate. 65 years is not that old. You have a journey to go, and I’m also inspired to see the people who are graduating here today and listening and hearing
what they’re studying. I think there are so many bad things said about my country. There’s so much good that we need to promote and encourage people to know,” she said.
In her journey, she said she has worked with many universities in different countries, including Canada, Argentina, Egypt, and many more, flying Mzansi’s flag as a cultural ambassador. She said the biggest embarrassment in her country, Mzansi, is the lack of respect and safety of women and children.
The author said her biggest inspiration is people who bear the torch of hope, saying they will do good no matter the circumstances. Dr Mhlophe, the founder of Gcinamasiko Arts & Heritage Trust, said she had been honoured by the University of KZN before, and now it is DUT.
All the awards she has received in different parts of the world are crucial, but being honoured at home means a lot to her. She added that the day before the elections, she is filled with fear because it is the most uncertain time in Mzansi.“We’ll go out there and vote, and we’re scared that our people are so prepared to swear, to hate, to kill one another. So, it feels like the apartheid is running on autopilot; may we please refrain from doing all of those ugly things and say let’s vote. Let’s choose whichever political party we want,” she said.
