Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Namisa Bizana. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Namisa, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Before moving to the States with my husband in 2021, I would have proudly described myself as a strong black African woman. Who came from a long line of strong black woman. I would fane humility and eloquently give homage to my ancestors, who fought the English colonialists and won. Who survived through apartheid. I would tell you that I came from a people that kept their humanity even as the world was actively trying to strip it from them. Although all these things are true and I am a proud Zulu South African woman, I also know that in those circumstances, they were forced to be. It was a matter of survival.
Up until 2020 I’d say, I never really knew what that was truly like. Don’t get me wrong, I had hardships. I grew up as a black, overweight child, in a white post-apartheid neighbourhood. All sorts of things were said and done to me but I had always had something to fall back on. Whether it be my talents or general accolades, my wit or my older siblings. Well, not this time.
Coming to America we had very little and we didn’t know anyone. Not a single person. In fact no one on either side of our families had lived anywhere outside of the African continent before and up until that point, my husband had never even been to America. My husband is what initially brought us here. He got accepted to The Berklee College of Music. When we found a sponsor everything else fell into place. This was my husbands dream but it also meant that we would sacrifice everything to follow it. One of those sacrifices was that I was unable to work during this period. We had a plan, I would apply for a change of status but that could take months or even years before it was approved. Which meant that while he was busy with school all the time and I was, well, not. Days turned to weeks and the novelty wore off. I grew restless and angry. I cried… a lot. Some days I felt so low it scared me. I had struggled with depression in the past but I had never felt anything like this before. I was lonely. And for the first time in my life, I wasn’t working. I couldn’t perform. Which was more about the fact that I felt my work was what gave me worth than the work in and of itself. My whole life was tied to this identity. I thought I had to earn my worth. I was so burnt out when I came here, I hadn’t even noticed. On tough days, I would remember how we felt the call to come to Boston. That’s what I clung onto. As a person of faith, I found a faith filled community who coloured my life. My husband started bringing his school friends around and my life began to expand. As the days turned to weeks that turned to months, I wasn’t so angry anymore. In fact, I began to heal. I no longer felt the need to earn my worth and my work became just that, work. Yes, absolutely love it and it’s my passion and part of my life calling but it is not the centre of my life.
Having gone through all of this, I would say that this is where I found resilience- in my weakness. When I stopped avoiding the pain, I became resilient. When I allowed grief to wash over me, I became resilient. When I was honest with myself and the people in my life, when I stopped being performative, I found a kind of peace that surpassed understanding.
Of course I must also pay homage to my family and friends who prayed for me, cheered me on and listened to me for hours on the phone. I don’t know what I would have done without them.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am mostly in the rebuilding phase of my career. As an artist your network is half of the job. I lost my network when I came here. In some circumstances it what gets you into the room. You need people who can vouch for you. Talent is great but in a world filled with talented people, which is not a negative thing by the way. Iron sharpens iron. You need a community of artists. Especially ones who are better than you. This should make you refine your craft so that when you are given an opportunity to showcase, you’re ready.
Having said that, there are some projects I’d like to highlight, I voice the character of Monde in a Netflix animation series, the first of its kind, called Supa Team 4. It’s from ages 7 and up. I voice another character in another animation movie but unfortunately I can’t say much more than that. I also had the honour of singing backing vocals for the incomparable Naledi Masilo, coming out soon on platforms.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Reliability: People in the industry talk. Your reputation does proceed you. Show up ready.
2. You have to find joy in the process: You will spend more time off stage than you do on stage. Find a way to keep the flame alive.
3. Self care: Take care of yourself! You come before your career. Your health should be your priority. Give yourself grace. Art does not have to be painful.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Oh my gosh yes please! Earlier in the year I was part of a week long residency at Brown University, focusing on devised work. Since then I’ve been desperate to find more people willing to delve into devised work. People who are not focused on the product but on the people. Who have a hunger for more. I would love to find people who are willing stay curious and go down uncharted paths. I’d love to work with artists across the disciplines who want to play using seed stories from our backgrounds or from existing work. If this sounds appealing to you or anyone you might know, you can contact me via email at namisa.mdlalose@gmail.com or instagram: @namisamdlalose
Contact Info:
- Website: www.namisamdlalose.com
- Instagram: namisamdlalose
- Facebook: Namisa Mdlalose
- Linkedin: Namisa Mdlalose
- Youtube: Namisa Mdlalose
Image Credits
Daniel Rutland Manners Gareth Weise
