S01E11 Ofentse Pitse

--:--
Ofentse Pitse is great at turning “Why?” into “Why not?”. As a young girl, she wondered why there was no one like her in her church’s brass band. When it offered trumpet lessons, she grabbed the opportunity with both hands. In 2017, Ofentse wondered why there wasn’t a lot more representation in the world of classical music and created Anchored Sound. Her all-black orchestra began as a choir and was soon complemented by instrumentalists. When it became clear that they needed a conductor, she looked no further than herself and sought mentors to
prepare for the task.

This episode’s chess master welcomes us to study the daring moves that have made her an actor in the change she wants to see. We learn the value in questioning the status quo and that sometimes, we are the answers we are looking for.

“It’s so important for me to drive the narrative that theatre is cool. You can play theatre and do an electro-house concert. You can play theatre and do an amapiano or pop or urban trap art repertoire, and it’s still cool. I would say that is part of my vocation as well: to allow people understand the importance of really being fully vested in theatre, knowing who shows up playing where, and why it’s important for us to go and watch them.” — Ofentse Pitse

Music chose Ofentse Pitse. Born in Mabopane, Pretoria, she grew up on the soulful sounds of Donny Hathaway and Motown artists like The Spinners. As her interest in music grew, she became a living reminder of her maternal grandfather, jazz conductor Otto Pitse. Even as an architect, Ofentse finds her musical influences are right at home in her design concepts.

As the first black South African woman to own and conduct an all-black orchestra, Ofentse is determined to showcase the value of African talent through theatre. Join The Africa Whisperer, Lee Kasumba to hear her fearless story of leadership and embracing the unknown.

Social media handles
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/people/Ofentse-Pitse/100063563711835/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ofentse_pitse/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ofentse__pitse

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWcvKBclziHGU15QZXLlzNA
2 Nov 2022 English South Africa Society & Culture · Business

Other recent episodes

Vanessa Mdee - Finding Purpose Beyond The Noise

Meet Vanessa Mdee, the Tanzanian Powerhouse who wears many hats: singer, rapper, TV personality, radio host, and social activist. Vanessa is also the driving force behind the “Bongo Flava To The World” movement. She rose to fame as the first-ever Tanzanian MTV VJ, captivating audiences with her infectious energy. However,…
2 Apr 1 hr 03 min

Building an Empire: How Nomndeni Mdakhi Turned Ideas into Impact

Nomndeni Mdakhi is a South African impact entrepreneur who has built a successful career empowering others. Nomndeni's journey began in 2009 with the launch of FUSE ACADEMY, a DJ school for girls. This was followed by Edits Communications in 2011, an agency connecting brands with celebrities and influencers. In 2017,…
7 Mar 1 hr 25 min

S2.E4 - Anita Erskine: Mastering Criticism, Navigating Change And Unleashing Your Voice

Anita Erskine is ranked one of the top 100 most Inspirational Women in Ghana. With over two decades of experience in Strategic Communications Management and Television Content Development and Management, she is widely celebrated for dedicating her voice to shaping Africa's narrative and emphasizing the imperatives of sustainable development. She…
5 Feb 1 hr 24 min

S2.E3 - Wendy Okolo: Inside The Mind of Nasa's Research Engineer, Inventor And Author

Meet Dr Wendy Okolo,a Nigerian-American aerospace engineering researcher in the Intelligent Systems Division at NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, conducting research and leading cross-functional teams in aerospace vehicle flight safety and controls optimization. At 26 years old, she became the first black woman to obtain a Ph.D. in…
22 Jan 1 hr 05 min

S2. E2 - David Tlale - A Faith-Fueled Journey of Globalizing African Style

Dr. David Tlale is one of Africa's top fashion designers. With a portfolio showcased at esteemed events like New York and Paris Fashion Weeks, he's the visionary founder behind The House of David Tlale. In this episode, David reveals a deeply personal journey shaped by his upbringing in the Vosloorus…
24 Nov 2023 1 hr 06 min