thembisa
mshaka
Over the course of a 30-year career in entertainment, and a quarter century of that tenure spent conceiving award-winning and world-class campaigns, Thembisa Mshaka is the founder of Mshaka Media. Her career spans the areas of touring, management, magazine publishing, recorded music and technology, advertising, music supervision for film, voice-over, and television. Thembisa has had the great privilege of putting words into the mouths of auteurs, luminaries, world leaders, and megastar recording artists. Beyonce’. Michelle Obama. Jamie Foxx. Wu-Tang Clan. Queen Latifah. NaS. Will Smith. Prince. Spike Lee. She’s written for them, and a galaxy of talent from all walks of life. With ThembisaMshaka.com, we welcome you to her world.
SIGHT
Thembisa is the founder of Mshaka Media, a film production and television development enterprise specializing in the passionate telling of authentic stories. As Director and Producer, Thembisa’s credits include: First Kiss and three-time festival selection The Divorce Counselor.
SOUND
A 7-time Voice Arts nominated artist, Thembisa has been the voice of campaigns for major brands including IAMS Cat Food, Xfinity, Publix, and Sun Trust Bank. She has been the voice for Time 100, Lifetime, Oxygen, the WNBA, and the National Women’s Soccer League. Learn how she can help you become a successful voiceover actor.
SCRIBE
As a journalist, Thembisa's byline is in publications from Okayplayer.com, Huff Post, Honey and Essence.com. Her mentorship and career guide, “Put Your Dreams First,” is hailed by Chuck D as "the new entertainment industry bible" and was listed by AOL among its Top 15 Hip-Hop Lit titles.
Available on Amazon
NOTABLE PROJECTS
The breadth of projects to which Thembisa has contributed during her career is immense. Here are a few notable projects. Click the button below to view more of her work.
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In her book, Put Your Dreams First, Thembisa Mshaka uses her years of experience in the music industry to expose the hidden truths that women need to know as they aspire toward entertainment careers, such as how to avoid compromising one’s self-respect and the little-known fact that women run a large part of the business. This highly informative guide is for every woman wanting to know how to navigate the entertainment superhighway and find that job of a lifetime.
Mshaka Media provides a wide range of resources and services related to the crafts of world class creative. The company houses three key areas: consulting, brand strategy and editorial. Her passion as a media producer, screenwriter and filmmaker also lives here.
BRAND CREATIVE
Mshaka Media specializes in creating brand identity, franchise naming, and overall look and feel for brands that are new, like Jazz Music Awards, or established brands in need of unique collateral, Like LIFECamp, Inc.
Voiceover (SAG AFTRA)
With over two decades behind the microphone for clients from the Women of Team USA to Publix and TIME Inc., Thembisa can provide you with award winning voice work in promo, political, commercial, ADR, animation, and as your Voice of God for live events. Hers is the voice "heard on everything."
Campaign Ideation
Mshaka Media can take your vision from idea to tangible campaign. Compelling copy and franchise/product naming are other areas of specialization: Thembisa coined the now ubiquitous phrase 'Generation NeXt' in 1993, and invented the Checkerboard out of home outdoor advertising execution for Destiny's Child in 2002. This style of advertising is now used by Hollywood and major brands.
Literary/Editorial Services
Need a script for a docuseries or commercial? Have a manuscript ready to be edited or proofread? Look no further than Mshaka Media. Author clients include Actor/Model Brely Evans and Award-winning life coach Stone Love Faure.
BLOG
Thembisa stays connected to consumers by provoking thought and dialogue with her writing. From commentary on music and media to features highlighting cultural leaders and business practices, Thembisa’s blog is her take on issues of the day.
‘Malcolm & Marie’ Holds Up A Mirror
When a relationship becomes a Hall of Mirrors, your true self becomes nearly impossible to identify. Surrounded by projections, reflections go from affirming to haunting. It’s of
Janelle James Puts Her White Fans To Work. Justice Work.
Today is Janelle James’s birthday. I’m sure it already sucked to bring it in during Covid-19, but today has further been marred by the charges (or lack thereof) brought
‘On The Record’ is The ‘Bombshell’ Black Woman Survivors Deserve
By Thembisa S. Mshaka Patriarchy is an attention whore. When men raping and sexually assaulting women is the topic, the survivors are routinely relegated to the shadows, and the me
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