“A Woman in Waiting” is the soundtrack of Thembi Mtshali’s Sony

Award-Winning one woman play that has been performed to high critical

acclaim around South Africa as well as America and Britain.

This album captures the emotions of a young woman growing up in South Africa

under the oppressive apartheid regime. Although the subject matter is serious,

“A Woman in Waiting” is paradoxically uplifting, leaving one with a real

sense of hope.

Biography

Multi-talented Thembi Mtshali is recognised as one of South Africa's most celebrated artists, as vocalist, actress, television personality, comedienne and playwright. She was a finalist in the arts and entertainment category in 2002 Tribute award

Thembi's theatre credits include: Marabi and Mabatha which toured in South Africa, UK and USA. Ipi Tombi, in which Thembi played a lead role appeared on the West End and Broadway. She co-wrote and starred in Eden and Other Places and Woman of Africa at the Market Theatre with Barney Simon. She has also appeared in, Once on this Island, La Cage aux Folles, and The Crucible. She also co-wrote with Gcina Mhlophe and Maralin Vanrenen and starred in Have You Seen Zandile which won a Fringe First award at the Edinburgh Festival in 1988. She played the lead female role in the film Mapantsula, which earned her an FNB Vita Nomination for Best Actress. With the film winning the best new film at the Cannes International Film Festival 1988.

Her television credits include a long running comedy It's Good It's Nice and TV drama The African Skies. She also appeared as a guest in Madam and Eve and SOS sitcoms and most recently in TV series Generations and Backstage, currently shooting a new sit-com for SABC 2 Stokie.

Her work in the USA includes a walk on role in Steven Spielberg's film Deep Impact, she wrote and performed a dramatic piece for the Black Family on Stage at the National Black Theatre Festival in North Carolina, the choreography of The Jenny Burton Experience in New York and Dancing After the Storm for the Discovery Theatre in Washington D.C. She had a residency at the Galluadette University of the Deaf in Washington DC doing workshops in Story telling in l998.

As a singer, Thembi has shared the stage with such world-renowned artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and Abdullah Ibrahim. She has recorded three albums in her own name. She has also recorded as lead vocalist with the Sipho Gunede band Peace and the African Jazz Pioneers on both occasions making one album. As a backing singer Thembi has recorded with Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba and appeared in the choir to the soundtrack for Walt Disneys The Lion King. Her Most memorable occasion as a singer was when she was asked to perform the Zulu version of Happy Birthday for the then president Nelson Mandela on his 80th birthday in Washington D.C.

She co-wrote and stared in a Woman In Waiting, a one woman play based on her life story co written and directed by Yael Farber. She was awarded with Best Actress Award for her performance at The Carthage Festival in Tunisia 1999. A Woman In Waiting won a Fringe First in Edinburgh Festival in 2000 and was nominated for a FNB Vita. Award for best script. The play also had a short run at London's New Ambassador Theatre on the West End in 2001. She was nominated for best actress in The Manchester Evening Standard Award in the UK, whilst the BBC Radio 4 version of the play won the Gold award for the best Radio Drama produced in Britain at the Sony Academy awards in 2002. Thembi has just finished roles in the feature films The Wooden Camera and Country of my Skull to be released at the end of 2003.