Hlomla Dandala

Hlomla Dandala, born in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, is a celebrated South African actor, director, and television presenter whose career has shaped the landscape of African storytelling for over three decades. A graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand , who began his career in 1995 with Channel O and rose to prominence in 1998 through his groundbreaking role as Derek Nyathi in Isidingo. His performance contributed to one of South Africa’s most defining moments in television, the country’s first televised interracial kiss; signalling a bold shift in cultural representation on screen. He went on to deliver powerful lead performances in some of the nation’s most acclaimed productions, including Jacob’s Cross, Scandal! The River, and Smoke & Mirrors; earning respect for his nuanced portrayals of complex characters. His directorial achievements span productions such as Generations, Gaz’lam, Backstage, Scandal!  and Hard Copy, with his directorial debut in the SABC2 series Heartlines in 2006. Mr Dandala’s film career extends internationally, featuring roles in Fools (1997), Red Dust (2004), Lord of War (2005), Sniper Reloaded (2011), Winnie (2011), and Happiness Is a Four-Letter Word (2016), among others. Fluent in five languages, his artistry bridges diverse audiences and cultures. In his TEDx talk, “Acting Our Stories into Existence,” Mr Dandala explores how performance, identity, and narrative intersect to shape who we are - both individually and collectively. Through his lens as a performer and storyteller, he invites audiences to reflect on how the stories we act, tell, and believe have the power to transform our realities.