Actress and TV and film producer Dineo Lusenga is driven by the need to create work that creates a positive social impact. Her first acting job was on Intersexions, a seminal show that highlighted the crisscrossing of people’s sexual encounters and the importance of being responsible. In 2012, she hosted a youth talk show called Ek’se Lalela that centred on conversations about the future of young people in South Africa. Living Land is the latest show she presented on SABC 2, which exposes young people to the world of agriculture.
Lusenga has a BA from the University of the Witwatersrand in Dramatic Arts and an Acting For Film qualification from New York Film Academy, and hopes that her contributions to the television industry inspire others to follow their passion. “I hope that when people look at the work that I have done they can see that there is so much more to television than just being the face of a show or film.” She adds that it’s also a valid choice, but she’s interested in showing that there are a plethora of options and opportunities out there. Lusenga is working on her first feature film, based on Kopano Matlwa’s novel Coconut, through her production company KIWI Films. She scripted the 2017 MetroFM Music Awards, as well as the 2018 South African Film and Television Awards — which added a creative director credit to her name. “Having the opportunity to work on such monumental projects reminded me of how fascinated I used to be by award shows as a child, and how much I wanted to be part of the creative team. It’s good to feel like I’m doing the work of my dreams.”
It comes as no surprise when she says that “all your dreams are going to come true, just put in the work” is what she used to tell her younger self.