MEET THE DREAMERS
The faces behind the dream.
“The arts historically have been a tool to either illuminate, amuse, divert, or sway. They are vital in creating our comfort zones. Having pushed myself out of my own comfort by trying to be part of something bigger than myself, I aim to use my thoughts, experiences, and words to push readers out of theirs, while using the arts as a backdrop and a muse.”
– Lungelo Bango
“South Africa, as we know and live it, is a very fast-paced and complex place. All we’re ever trying to do is keep up. Yet, in the moments when we aren’t, we look to the arts to keep us tethered to all that is beautiful and true. My hope is to be a part of something that can document, and create, more beauty and honesty through radical optimism and unbounded imagination.“
– Kgotso Dlamini
“Cultivating a culture of noticing is my passion. To live is to observe. To observe is to notice life in all its glory.“
– Naledi Kekana
“The arts in all their forms are the great pillars of human sociology and culture. Having grown up in a melting pot of different cultures I feel the responsibility to help place the bricks that will hold up future generations of the collective South African social culture. Film, music and literature as they pertain to the collective psyche of South Africa are the mortar between the bricks I hope to have the honour of laying in my time here.“
– Neo Khotlo
“Literature and the arts are an integral part of the human experience. Language and text shape our views, enabling us to formulate and articulate our ideas and thoughts with precision, and to further develop the opinions and beliefs that orient us in the world. Film, photography, and the visual arts, in both their traditional and classical forms, operate as transformative forces within society. Through Toro as a channel, I hope to contribute new perspectives and to interrogate deep-rooted ways of seeing and thinking.“
– Moon Mokgoro
“I have always believed that beauty is political, that popular culture deserves to be taken more seriously and preserved, and that there is a symbiotic relationship between the stories we tell and how the societies in which we live are shaped. My thoughts live at the convergence of beauty, current affairs, identity, and culture, drawing from a fascination with the everyday moments that quietly reveal who we are. As a Black transfemme living in South Africa, I am particularly interested in self-actualisation: what it means to become oneself in a society that is constantly negotiating history, identity, and belonging. Whether writing about makeup, policy, a viral cultural moment, or the dynamic political landscape, I hope to unearth the deeper questions beneath the surface. Through opinion, research, and long-form writing. I aim to invite readers into conversations that are steeped in curiosity, cultural engagement, and the belief that empathy, imagination and critical thought can move us closer to ourselves and each other.“
– Kabelo Nchabeleng
“You give, you get back; opposites attract; and we always tend towards what we lack. We live in a world that is constantly juxtaposed with itself. And while this contrast can cause confusion, I’m a bigger fan of finding humour in this unending irony. I hope to share this gift of laughter with others and with that, remind them and myself that we are all a part of something bigger than us.“
– Layola Mehlomakulu
“Hell can freeze. Heaven can go up in flames. Earth can stand still. I will still find a way to pick up a pencil. An unshakable artistic spirit is a gift.“
– Kimberly Panashe
