Say hello to my imaginary friend.

Words by Alex Gwaze (Curator)
Questions by Alex Gwaze and Terry-Jo Thorne (Researcher & Writer)

We now live in a world of borrowed social scenes. A “social scene” is the performance / documenting of a pre-existing socially affluent activity or situation that warrants recognition and accreditation. For example going out eat, visiting a famous landmark, partying, graduating, or exchanging gifts. Such “scenes” are frequently exhibited on social media and rewarded with likes, envy or hate by our imaginary (digital) friends. This is how we dream now. In fact, when you hand your child your phone, they are no longer inventing fantasies and aspirations from their own imagination. They are absorbing our social scenes (30 seconds at a time).

However, there is a place where you can get paid to play pretend. Let’s say you find yourself on a set, performing a scene opposite a cute actor, while you are drinking grape juice that’s supposed to be wine. It’s the same framework right? I imagine that’s how Natasha Dlamini feels sometimes (in between takes). Natasha Dlamini is a Bulawayo Arts Awards (BAA) winning actress, Model, and voice over artist. She is known for her roles in the Ndebele Sci-fi “The Signal”, Netflix’s “Queen Sono”, “Veza: The Unfolding”, and 3KTV’s “Tangled”. I think Natasha sometimes feels like she is playing pretend because she told everyone that, growing up she “had imaginary friends”.

As an artist, I can semi-understand the need for friends, real or imagined. Plus, I know how useful the ability to form mental images is for all true believers. Imagination makes you resourceful, it can help you invent solutions (and also lead you to regrettable decisions). It has more to do with what’s inside us than what is out there (to experience). That’s why I was curious to see what else is inside Natasha’s head besides “friends”.

AG: Take us back to your after school days at home, playing with your imaginary friends. Thanks to social media, it’s now easier to make ‘friends’.

ND: (laughs) Honestly, I think I looked forward to coming home after school every day because I couldn’t wait to play with my imaginary friends. From a very young age, I believed in the power of imagination so much that I created people in my mind, and we lived together in our own world. I played a lot of roles with my imaginary friends. From being a president to being a maid. I could be anything I wanted. Little did I know then that my spirit was trying to familiarize me with what I would do for the rest of my life. But I don’t agree that social media only has imaginary friends. It has played a huge role in connecting me to the world. And given me friends who are like family. A good part of my support system is from the people I connected with on the Internet.

AG: Let’s agree to disagree (laughs). You’ve described yourself as “a creep when it comes to analysing people”. Have you ever analysed someone from afar and met them after?

ND: Yes! I have analyzed a lot of people from afar and met them in person, and my experiences are always different. Sometimes I am spot on and at times I am not because human beings are creatures of change and that’s okay. You know, I never went to an acting school so I decided to make everyone who I analyze a character and try to follow their journey and learn their mind. I analyze their movements, their choice of words, who they play with, how they respond to conflict, their level of education and its impact on their everyday life. It’s interesting I must say because when I’m cast, every role reminds me of someone I’ve analyzed. And that helps me in giving life to my characters (laughs).

TJ: Are you really a “academic / bookworm”, nerd like you stated. I ask because I was so surprised to hear you are not a fan of “Sci-Fi”.

ND: (laughs) You know when I say I’m academic it’s because I worked hard at school. The fear of failure always made me read extra hard. Failing to me meant that I will not come out of poverty so I didn’t want that for myself. But a nerd! No I don’t think I am one. So I’m not a fan of Sci-Fi. Before I was cast in “The Signal” I wasn’t really familiar with the genre. My favourite genre is Romance. What would the cinema be if it weren’t for the countless stories of love and courtship. I am such a lover of love. Try to think of the last mainstream blockbuster you went to that didn’t have a love story at its core – Barbie, Oppenheimer, Top Gun? Even Dune!

AG: ‘You can’t be in love and wise at the same time’. So you like to read. What is the most important lesson you read about film or acting that you applied to the real world?

ND: You’re clearly not a fan of Romance (laughs). Okay moving on (laughs). One lesson I learnt is that when you create a character you can’t judge it because as an actor you will fail to play that role – because you have chosen to limit it in real life. I have learnt that all of us put a mask on when we are outside and not alone. Acting has taught me to not judge people. Everything a person does is a result of their past or present and it’s usually deeper than you see on the surface. So acting has taught me to be graceful towards people.

AG: Actors tend to attract more “celebrity” attention than the director or scriptwriters. They often become role models. How do you feel about the issue of privacy, as an actress?

ND: Oh my goodness! That is a very interesting question. To be honest with you I am so blessed to have been granted wisdom to understand that this is not my gift to use as I please but God has borrowed it to me – anytime he decides he can take it back. So that has grounded me over the years. If living my life inspires you thank God, but I am not desperate to be a role model to anyone because I am afraid to disappoint people. That is my weakness in life. I am always afraid to disappoint those that choose to love me or those that I choose to love. So why put myself in that situation? However, what I have promised myself for sure is to love myself as truthful as possible so that those that choose to make me their role model are inspired by truth not lies.

TJ: One area you don’t mind standing out is fashion. I recently saw you modelling for the fashion documentary, #IWearMyCulture. Plus you are always immaculately dressed. How did you get into fashion, why does it appeal to you?

ND: Thank you. One thing for sure you did your research so well. Yes I love fashion. I am learning to dress the way I want to be addressed and that is coming with a lot of introspection on my part as an elder sister to my siblings, as a daughter, as a partner, and above it all as a child of God. Through my choice of clothes I am learning to be considerate of those I represent. It’s a journey but I am here for it, present in all ways. However, besides the need to express myself through what I choose to wear I don’t know where my knack for fashion came from.

AG: One thing I notice about your style is how long you kept your natural hair. There is so much that can be said about African women and their hairstyle choices. What do you have to say about yours?

ND: Personally, at first some time in 2016, I decided to keep my natural hair because I have a very itchy scalp and sometimes even if I try to braid, a week later my scalp will be itching. It’s uncomfortable. I don’t like that. I tried a lot of products but unfortunately they didn’t work for me. Secondly, I could not afford other people’s long hair (laughs). And when I could afford it – I guess it was too late cause I didn’t feel beautiful in it as I did with my own hair. However, i know I will learn to feel confident in it and you’ll see me in wigs and weaves too. As of now, I like to stay mostly in my natural hair because allows me to be confident and I love it for me. But I try every hairstyle that suits the look I’m going for.

TJ: You are very involved in advocating for women’s safety through your work for UNHCR Women to Women. What do you think has been the most significant development for women rights and issues, in the last decade or so?

ND: It has honestly been a decade of voices and choices. I’ve seen a single voice rise into a global chorus. Women are not only addressing gender based violence but they are also rejecting centuries of stigma – calling an end to a period of shaming. Gender roles are now less rigid. This decade has seen continued increases in women’s and girls education levels. These changes have been accompanied by a rise in the status of women. 10 years ago women were not outspoken about gender based violence and domestic abuse. With more awareness, we see today’s women coming forward and taking the future in their own hands. It’s a good sign as well that today we are talking about it loudly, publicly -which means we are trying to find a solution. I can take the whole day talking about the developments for women rights and issues because they are a lot but let me conclude by saying the greatness of this moment is that finally the world was able to hear and act for some women.

AG: I’ll be honest, the entertainment industry to me seems like a Godless space not safe for women. How do you reconcile your faith, values and passion with an industry that has corrupted so many?

ND: Indeed God is a permanent fixture in my life and I brag about it all the time. I remember I once questioned why God made me to be part of an insensitive industry like this one. I didn’t understand it myself but for some reason every time I asked that question I remember the verse, ‘you are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven’ – this is how I am constantly reconciling my faith.

AG: Talking about hidden lamps. You are a romantic, you are a fan of sunsets. So for my last question, who do you share your sunsets and sunrises with?

ND: (laughs) Oh wow! You are too much (laughs). Concerning issues of privacy, I try and protect those very dear to my heart like my immediate family and the person I am in a relationship with. I have shared my sunrises and sunsets with a very loving man that has loved me through all my phases of evolving and done it with so much grace. To answer that clearly, yes I am in relationship. I am a lover of love, Alex! You are something else (laughs). But yeah, I only desire to be known for my work and the rest of my private life belongs to me right? And not the world (laughs).

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Follow Natasha at: @natasha_dlamini