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Tapelo Zama

Tapelo Zama is an independent filmmaker, scriptwriter, and social entrepreneur, with a decade of experience across the media and advertising landscapes. His deep affinity for storytelling and history is rooted in his upbringing in Groutville, KwaZulu-Natal, a historic village that once served as the seat of King Shaka Zulu and the home of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Chief Albert Luthuli. Raised by grandparents who were both school principals, Tapelo grew up in an environment that deeply valued knowledge, education, and the power of narrative.

He pursued his higher education across several institutions, including the University of Johannesburg, the University of South Africa (UNISA), and the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA). It was during his academic journey that Tapelo crossed paths with world-renowned and celebrated author Niq Mhlongo, who became a foundational mentor, guiding and shaping his discipline and commitment to the literary craft. Today, Tapelo merges his passion for African history, mythology, and storytelling through his creative and corporate ventures. As a writer and developer of scripted content for television, fiction, and interactive media, his work is consistently driven by a mission to elevate African innovation and bring rich, complex cultural worlds to life.

Position: Author/Entrepreneur at Afro Geek

Schedule
2026-10-31 Panel Discussion
Gaming and Comics: the Overlooked Slice of the Funding Pie
Time 11:15 a.m