Bringing story to life

‘Storytelling is about touching lives, touching souls, opening hearts.

- Hein Kaiser

Storytelling is not just an art. It's in our DNA as humans. From campfire tales in the caves of our ancestors through to thespian genius like Shakespeare, books, movies and television.

Actress and children's author Candida Mosoma has shared stories amid the bright lights of West End stages and now, she's taken it to pages in a children's book called Khanyi and The Kite.

Mosoma's credits read like those of a theatrical doyenne. She has told stories in major shows like Sister Act, Dreamgirls and The Lion King among others.

"I have learned that storytelling is about touching lives, touching souls, opening hearts. It is about sharing experiences, whether they belong to others or come from your own journey," she said.

"For me, storytelling is really about finding ways to make the world a better place by telling stories that people can connect with, in a way that is accessible and deeply human."

The book, the first in a series she dubbed Mbilu Tales, follows Khanyi and her pug, Momo, as they chase a runaway kite through a park guided by the gentle wisdom of Kokwani.

The latter is a character who plays a central role in Khanyi's life and is drawn from Mosoma's own life anchors, she said.