Maphefo: What are some of the studies that you took part in to enhance your craft? Itumeleng: I did filmmaking for 2 years and majored in cinematography and video editing. Maphefo: What were your dreams when you were a child? Itumeleng: As a child I didn't think of much until one day I was snooping around in my fathers office and a camera fall down on my lap and ever since photography and visual creative has been my calling. Maphefo: What are you currently doing as a career field? Itumeleng: Right now as a career field I am freelancing in the Film and Television industry as a cinematographer and doing photography for any industry that require my skills. Maphefo: What makes your work original and sets you apart from the rest? Itumeleng: What makes my work original is the original approach to how I do photography and plan my shots, my editing style and approach tells a unique story. Maphefo: What are some of the social injustices that you feel your craft can work in eradicating? Itumeleng: I feel my work can help in eradicating the race, age and gender social injustices that happen not only in society but also in the media industry. Maphefo: Seeing as to you are a male individual, what are some of the projects that you feel men should partake in to enlighten the male young individual into understanding? Itumeleng: As a male I feel that men should partake in projects that help the young men to understand that a female is not an object that can do everything on their own and that men a superior than women and that both sexes can do most things equally and that they can also respect each other in the process. Maphefo: What is the impact that you create and what is the impact that you feel you can have or have in society? Itumeleng: At the moment I never thought much of what impact my work should portray but I'd like my work to portray a message of positivity and evoke emotions of self realization of oneness and knowing who we are. Maphefo: On a lighter note what are some of your favourite dishes in the Sub-Saharan Africa and who is your favourite artist? Itumeleng: My sub-Saharan dish is the jollof rice with goat light soup and fried chicken. My favourite artist in photography is the late Mr Sam Nzima, one of the photographers I looked up to. Maphefo: Besides the work that you do because we understand that your work is what you love doing, what are some of the extra mural activities you partake in, what do you do for fun? Itumeleng: Besides the work that I do I go out for movies and plays at theaters visit film screenings, I like to go out to sightseeing and hiking. Maphefo: What is your definition of Africanness, what is your definition of black consciousness, are you black conscious? Itumeleng: My definition of Africanness is being one with thyself and understanding where we come from and where our roots lie, and my definition of black consciousness is one knowing their true identity and who they are as a black person. I would like to think of myself as black conscious even though my surname is of white decent. Maphefo: What are some of the challenges that you have faced in your journey to being who you are and what are some of the challenges that you continue to face as a black individual in the modern westernized society? Itumeleng: The challenges I have faced and still continue to face in the journey I am is that we creatives aren't treated the same and that we are discriminated not only by white clientele but also by our black clientele preferring white photographers to us black photographers even though we can produce the same end products and this is still an on going thing that we are trying to eradicate hard. Maphefo: What do you feel can be done to make the journey to success less difficult for the ordinary black child? Itumeleng: The journey to success can be made less difficult for the ordinary black child if we can be treated equally from our white counterparts and given the same and equal opportunities to make a difference and bring new thinking. Maphefo: What are some of the advices that you can give individuals who are to follow in your footsteps? Itumeleng: To anyone that is looking to tap in the media industry know that you gonna meet different personalities, just be you and do you, stay in your lane as you work your way to where you wanna be and always keep level headed and know that PATIENCE is a virtue but never let anyone stand in your way. If doors don't open for you always know that windows are always open. There we go! I hope you enjoyed this interview. Please share with your network to support African talents. _________ Maphefo Mabapa, Boussole Précieuse' Representative in South Africa.