Dorcas Maphakela

Dorcas Maphakela is a multidisciplinary creative combining writing, visual arts and holistic well-being advocacy in her practice. She is a South African-born Mopedi woman who relocated to Australia by choice in 2007 and became a citizen in 2012. She studied Fine Arts at the University of Johannesburg and holds a Master of Arts in Writing from Swinburne University of Technology. Dorcas is also a TV presenter, public speaker and founder and producer of the Antenna Award-winning OZ AFRICAN TV (OATV). Her work was acknowledged with a Media Award from the Victorian Multicultural Commission for “outstanding reporting on issues of importance to diverse communities and reporting which contributes to Victoria’s cross-cultural understanding” (VMC).

Dorcas Maphakela's Latest Articles

Two panels. On the left is photo of Eugen Bacon. On the right is the cover of her book, 'Afro-Centered Futurisms in Our Speculative Fiction' with features a profile illustration of a black woman.
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Book review: Afro-Centered Futurisms in Our Speculative Fiction, Eugen Bacon (editor)

Essays on Black speculative fiction speaks to evolving discourses about identity.

In the production of 'Ilarun' a black woman in white, with a white turban, is sitting down wit h her arms apart. On the right is a tuft of plants.
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Theatre review: ILARUN: The Cutting Comb, fortyfivedownstairs

A story of decolonised power based on a 18th century Jamaican matriarch.

Two panels. On the left is author Santilla Chingaipe who is wearing a green and white dress. On the right is her book cover, 'Black Convicts", which is all in black with white font.
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Book review: Black Convicts, Santilla Chingaipe

Australia's trade in hidden slavery exposed.

An Aboriginal man in a silver costume has a moon like headdress and carries a lit sphere on a pole. Emu in the Sun, Blak in the Room.
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Theatre review: Blak in the Room, Southbank Theatre

Three short plays offer 'the gift of hearing our stories' from First Nations playwrights and creatives.

Photos of two Māori women with chin tattoos.
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Exhibition review: Māreikura-Ka rere te rongoā | the medicine flows, Immigration Museum 

A multimedia exhibition that showcases the strength of the Māori matriarchy.

Two panels. On the left is a smiling woman, Jumaana Abdu, wearing a taupe and white hijab. On the right is the cover of her novel, Translations, which features a woman also wearing a head veil. Her face is overlaid with some intricate patterns.
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Book review: Translations, Jumaana Abdu

A psychological journey that canvasses the depths of identity and trauma and explores the gaps of language.

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Theatre review: The Heart Whispers and Whirls, Shirley Burke Theatre

A multidisciplinary ensemble of international women sharing their heritage through poetry, folk songs, dance and shadow puppetry.

Against red drapes stands a dark-haired woman wearing lacey, black underwear-style clothing.
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Theatre review: Apologia, Malthouse Theatre

Reality and surrealism collide in one woman's fantasy of wanting to be a French actress.

Two panels. On the left is a smiling woman with brown hair, lavender coloured glasses and a lavender top. On the right is the title and author of the book in white font ('Dirrayawadha' and Anita Heiss) over a sunset treescape.
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Book review: Dirrayawadha, Anita Heiss

The prolific author returns to the Frontier Wars in this epic Australian fiction.

A woman wearing a cardboard crown. She has a black top over a light blue skivvy. La Belle Epoque.
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Theatre review: La Belle Epoque, Theatre Works

A multimedia play that interweaves different art forms to tell the story of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

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