COVER: Portia Hlubi creating space for authentic black female voices to tell stories
In a world where women still need to prove their worth, regardless of the many strides that have been achieved thus far, it is women like Portia Hlubi who have dedicated their lives (and crafts) to advocating for such rights.
It is women like her who have unapologetically created spaces where woman power can be manifested, to ‘dream’ and ‘create’ against all odds. And through storytelling, it is where she is committed to advancing this freedom for all women to exist, including herself.
“Where we fix each other’s crowns without judgment, but (instead are free to) tell authentic stories and kick a**,” she said during an interview with Frontpage.
And with this undying belief of unity among women, Milk and Honey TV was born, consisting of four black women who seek to inspire authentic storytelling anchored by women voices away from the male scrutiny that still plagues the industry.
“Milk and Honey TV’s genesis is very interesting. It started when I was getting fired a lot within the industry. ‘I had a big mouth’ or ‘I didn’t know my place’, and as usual I had a lot to say, a lot to change and therefore a lot to fight for. I was placed on ice a lot to rethink my life and I became so angry. But by God’s grace, I decided to redirect that anger and see if I can do it (work) by myself,” she said.
And what started off as a dare, conceding that if the industry had too many flaws of division and toxicity, she would be the change that is needed.
“And that is how I birthed Milk and Honey TV. Under that small company, at the time, I sent out pitches where I swore I was not going to get them. I was just trying my luck but suddenly, I was getting approvals and that’s how the little baby was kickstarted.”
Anchored on the ethos of offering ‘freedom to black females to unapologetically and boldly tell their own African stories’, Milk and Honey TV has since strived to give the power back to black females – allowing them the liberty to give direction to their own stories as opposed to being dictated to. Which has been a reality for many, she shares.
Milk and Honey TV strived to bring to life an utopian world of storytelling, against the reality of silent oppression through conformity. Taking up space is another of her mandates.
“We must have the freedom to express ourselves and I think that is what I am trying to create, a space for black women to be themselves and express themselves. I believe that the more comfortable, confident and healed the black woman is, the better the narrative they can share. And the better we can showcase the different layers of who we are to the world,” she said.
Born and bred in the rural parts of KwaZulu-Natal, the content queen says she knew storytelling was her calling from a tender age, way before technical words such as ‘the industry’ or ‘filming’ ever formed part of her vocabulary.
This was also a time when dreaming this big was never top-of-mind.
“I knew storytelling was my calling when people used to gang around my bed to hear me retell any story. From the happenings of that particular day, to sharing details of whatever fight had occurred or simply about my day at school. I knew there was something special about my gift, just that when you are young, one is not clued up on the jargon.”
But as the years went by, as the dream became clearer and more solidified within her, she knew which route she needed to take, “and that is why I never stressed myself with subjects such as physics and pure mathematics. I just knew I had to be in this industry in any shape or form,” she said.
Hlubi has since worked on impressive shows such as Lasizwe’s reality TV show Fake it till you make it, Celebrity Mystery Box, has directed S2 of The Real Housewives of Johannesburg and also went on to create and direct popular prime-time reality TV shows such as uThando Nesthembu.
“Although I’ve had so many highlight moments within my career, the one that really solidified it for me was season 5 of uThando Nesthembu, when it was nominated for a SAFTA award. It was that moment that was able to change the space for me in terms of what reality TV is and to be able to communicate an authentic reality show in its authentic form. That was really a highlight for me.”
And with so much more to do, Hlubi is inspired by the weight and responsibility of carrying the purpose of many people, a gift that beckons her to continuously make space for other women within the industry. It is for that reason that stopping is not an option for her.
“My hope within the industry is to heal, to be brave in our thoughts, to be authentically ourselves and just believe in our wildest dreams and help each other up. Yes we can do the most amazing things with the big or small budgets, but any woman that walks into Milk and Honey must leave a better woman and just learn to fix each other’s crowns.”
