“I cannot believe this is the dream of a girl in a small township in Limpopo…”
Rosina Shiko is taking her seat at a table that aims to give greater recognition to the people who are every so often missing from the spotlight.
The South African filmmaker, journalist and media personality has been selected as a jury member of the inaugural Honors Awards, an African awards platform that will recognize creative professionals functioning behind the scenes across film, television, music, documentary and advertising.
The awards will take place in Lagos, Nigeria later this year, providing Shiko an opportunity to contribute to the international platform that is focused on the work audiences may never see.
Even though the appointment is a significant career moment, Shiko says she is still trying to believe it is actually happening.
“Till today, I still don’t believe this is really happening,” she says. “I wake up every day and pinch myself thinking that perhaps I am dreaming”.
The recognition comes after years of working across different areas of media and film industry, but it is the purpose behind the Honors Awards that particularly resonates with her.
Shiko makes mention of the fact that much of her work involved helping build brands and production without necessarily being the person audiences see or even hear about.
She believes the same is true for everyone working behind the scenes.
“At award ceremonies, the people who get recognized are producers, writers and directors,” she says. “You hardly hear anything about your audio recordist, make-up artist, the art department, your boom swingers, the editors, the vision mixers.” For Shiko, that needs to change.
“It is high time that we give these people the flowers they deserve while they are still alive.”
Her appointment also carries personal importance. Coming from a small township in Limpopo, Shiko says being recognized on an international platform has given her a reason to reflect on how far her career has taken her.
“I cannot believe this is the dream of a girl in a small township in Limpopo,” she says.
As she prepares to step onto her role on the jury, Shiko sees the opportunity as more than just recognition for herself. She sees it as a reminder of what happens when people continue pursuing their ambition, even when the journey does not unfold as expected.
She says that for her, the message is simple: “Dream delayed are not dreams denied.”
By Sinentlahla Mbokwe