For over two decades, Nthato Mokgata, also known as Spoek Mathambo, has seamlessly built worlds of art between music, film, and literature, contributing to South Africa’s creative landscape through experimentation and collaboration.
Now, as he enters a new phase of his career with Romance Films, Mokgata is stepping further into the world of film and commercial storytelling, bringing with him the curiosity, boldness, and cross-disciplinary vision that have long defined his work.
“I’m really excited,” Mokgata began, reflecting on the new chapter in his career. “I’ve been in filmmaker mode for a long time, and moving into commercial work feels good. The amount of time that goes into traditional projects, six years for a documentary, three to four years for a film, can be frustrating. With shorter formats, you can tell stories more quickly and creatively.”
There is much to admire about Romance Films as a new avenue that would complement the creative force that Mokgata is. The Cape Town-based production company is a decorated and prolific stable that treasures storytelling and the quality it brings across the various campaigns and works it has been at the helm of. Mokgata further spoke of admiration for directors in that space, citing Terence Neal as both inspiration and mentor. “I love the bravery and adventurousness of the work there. Collaborating with fresh voices like Emilie Badenhorst and Justice [Mukheli] excites me; they bring vitality and perspective that I want to explore myself.”
Mokgata’s work in literature and film is often anchored in visions and concepts of Afro-futurism, so it comes as no surprise that the multi-hyphenate creative is always looking forward to the untapped potential of the burgeoning local creative scene. “There’s so much talent that isn’t being cast yet. People are putting themselves out there through self-tapes and online content, which makes it easier than ever to discover new voices. I want to bridge that gap.” Beyond his position as a vanguard in the industry, emerging talent serves as a source of influence. Mokgata mentioned artists, videos, and directors like Baby Daiz and Christian Mangachena’s recent works, emphasising the sheer volume and speed of contemporary content consumption. “It’s overwhelming, but it’s amazing. South Africa is technically at the peak of its powers in photography, cinematography, and fashion. Street fashion too. What young people are doing is incredible.”
On the topic of speed in both creation and consumption, the conversation inevitably turned to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into filmmaking and content production. Mokgata approaches this with nuance and different layered perspectives. “AI helps with efficiency, sure, but there are ethical issues. How are these models trained? Where is the water coming from to cool the systems? In some places, it’s literally causing droughts. That’s the crazy side of it — when human lives are affected.” He’s equally wary of how AI could distort African stories. “It has the capacity to hallucinate and lie,” he explains. “African history has already been obscured enough. I’ve seen people’s family photos misattributed by AI systems, and those errors become facts online. That’s dangerous.”
Still, Mokgata isn’t entirely anti-AI. “I don’t like fear-mongering,” he clarifies. “When used ethically, it can empower underdogs, make production more accessible. But if it starts replacing artists’ lifelong craft, it becomes tricky. An art style that took someone decades to perfect can now be replicated with a click. That’s tension.”
What is mutually agreed upon, though, is that Gen AI is a part of the current and future of storytelling, and Mokgata ponders his role in the future of filmmaking. After nearly 25 years in the creative industries, Mokgata has already left a deep mark, and he is thrilled for more collaboration.
“I think what excites me most is the spirit of collaboration,” he says. “Seeing people I’ve worked with like Langa Mavuso and Zoe Modiga grow into their own brilliance, that’s the most beautiful thing. Before the world fully recognises them, you know what they’re capable of.”
He pauses thoughtfully. “I want my legacy to be about balance and power, helping dope artists get seen, inspiring the next generation, and pushing the boundaries of what’s considered acceptable. I want to continuously redefine beauty. There’s chaos and sadness in the world, yes, but there’s also so much beauty. We just have to keep moving forward.
