Zeinabu Irene Davis is a celebrated director, screenwriter, and professor of Critical Gender Studies and African American Studies at UC San Diego. She is perhaps best known for her films Compensation (1999), A Period Piece (1991), and Cycles(1989), works that center the lives, voices, and imaginations of Black women with a rare tenderness and vision. As part of the legendary L.A. Rebellion—a movement of Black filmmakers who came together at UCLA in the late 1960s through the 1980s—Davis helped define a cinematic practice rooted in community, memory, and resistance to Hollywood’s narrow depictions of Black life. Her work carries forward the rebellion’s ethos while also carving out a distinctive space for Black feminist storytelling that is at once experimental, deeply intimate, and politically urgent. Across film, teaching, and mentorship, she has remained committed to expanding the possibilities of Black visual culture, showing us that cinema can be both a site of healing and a form of resistance.
On this month’s edition of The Witch’s Flight, Zama Dube is joined by Simphiwe Ndzube. The conversation spans personal biography, grief, sobriety and sourcing from ancestral memory to create a radical visual grammar.
Simphiwe Ndzube is a South African visual artist whose work moves between painting, sculpture, and performance with an unmistakable sense of imagination and political depth. Originally from the Eastern Cape and now based between Cape Town and Los Angeles, Simphiwe draws on magical realism, folklore, and the post-apartheid condition to build entire worlds—what he calls the “Mine Moon” or “Pink Universe.”
His art spills off the canvas, often incorporating second-hand clothes and found objects to explore themes like power, migration, and survival. From solo shows at the Denver Art Museum to major exhibitions in Mexico City, Shanghai, and Joburg, Simphiwe is carving his own lane—unapologetically surreal, grounded in spirit, and rich with Black South African memory.
On this month’s episode, Zama is joined by special guest MoRuf Adewunmi.
MoRuf Adewunmi is a Nigerian-American rapper, writer, and cultural curator based in Los Angeles. Known for his introspective lyricism and jazz-infused sound, MoRuf blends hip-hop, soul, and personal storytelling to create music that resonates deeply with listeners. He is the founder of Some Jazz Playing, a creative platform and community space that celebrates Black culture, jazz aesthetics, and artistic expression. Through both his music and multimedia work, MoRuf continues to build a legacy rooted in authenticity, emotional depth, and cultural reverence. His latest EP, Tiny Mic Raps series offers a glimpse into his diverse range, blending battle rap roots with captivating visuals. Each track features freestyles over his favorite beats into a tiny microphone, elevated by visualizers.
On this month’s episode, host Zama Dube is joined by special guest Monique Ruffin for an in-studio interview.
MONIQUE RUFFIN is a renowned astrologer, spiritual advisor, and writer with a deep commitment to guiding others on their personal and spiritual journeys. With years of experience in astrology, Monique has cultivated a unique approach that blends intuitive wisdom with practical insight, helping individuals navigate life’s challenges with clarity and confidence. Known for her warm, compassionate style, Monique offers personalized readings that empower her clients to align with their true purpose and harness the energies of the stars to create meaningful transformations. In addition to her astrological practice, Monique is a passionate advocate for self-care, personal growth, and the importance of understanding the cosmic influences that shape our lives.
The Witch’s Flight is guided by the question; “What does freedom SOUND like?” Taking heed to this, amapiano becomes a portal and a sonic guide to diverse freedom dreams. The Witch’s Flight is the quest for a Black feminist sensibility structured in a series of sonic experimentations that center South Africa and the larger African diaspora.
On this month’s episode, Zama is joined by special guest Fiyin Koko Tunde-Onadele for an interview.
Fiyin Koko Tunde-Onadele (b.1994) is a multidisciplinary Nigerian artist who developed a passion for art from a young age, inspired by watching her mother paint. This early influence spurred her natural talent, leading her to become a self-taught artist. Her work over the years reflects a deep engagement with womanism, her personal dreams, and her ongoing interactions with women.
Fiyin’s art is grounded in six central pillars: womanism, conversation, body positivity, movement, love, and femininity. These themes serve as a lens through which she examines the resilience of women, often with a delicate yet humor-infused approach. In addition to exploring these concepts, her work critically addresses women’s social issues, drawing attention to the complexities of their lived experiences.
By blending elements of fantasy, the color blue, activism, and storytelling, Fiyin uses diverse mediums — including mixed media paintings, sculpture, photography, and digital illustrations, in her artistic practice to foster connection and raise awareness, ensuring her audience is both moved by her storytelling and attuned to the social issues embedded within her work.
The Witch’s Flight is guided by the question; “What does freedom SOUND like?” Taking heed to this, amapiano becomes a portal and a sonic guide to diverse freedom dreams. The Witch’s Flight is the quest for a Black feminist sensibility structured in a series of sonic experimentations that center South Africa and the larger African diaspora.
On this month’s episode, Zama is joined by multidisciplinary artist Uréchi Oguguo for an artist conversation about their creative practice and how they queer the visual field by engaging African diasporic sensibilities of art.
Uréchi Oguguo is a New York City-based, Lagos-born illustrator, space maker, storyteller, and designer. Their creative practice encompasses a wide range of mediums, including handcrafts, illustration, and spatial design, all with a focus on celebrating and amplifying narratives of rest, care, and tenderness that are often overlooked in discussions of Blackness. Inspired by their artistic pursuits, Uréchi is the visionary behind “Make Space”, a transformative initiative that provides a free and accessible gathering place for makers to reignite their creative passions. By organizing inclusive events where friends, artists, and crafters come together, Uréchi fosters a sense of community and collective creativity. Uréchi also serves as a Board of Director at Ubuntu Education, Inc., an organization dedicated to decolonizing and recalibrating the field of architecture through more equitable and socially conscious design education.
The Witch’s Flight is guided by the question; “What does freedom SOUND like?” Taking heed to this, amapiano becomes a portal and a sonic guide to diverse freedom dreams. The Witch’s Flight is the quest for a Black feminist sensibility structured in a series of sonic experimentations that center South Africa and the larger African diaspora.
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Olwethu “Olwee” Mlotshwa, better known by his stage name, Ms Party, is a South African DJ. Born in Diepkloof, Soweto, the DJ has garnered popularity for his zeal on the decks, playing catchy tunes and every now and then leaving the dance floor to show off his dance moves and party with the crowd.
Ms Party burst into the industry in 2011, as one half of the DJ duo, The Tanktop DJs, founded with Roger Sivuyile. After going their separate ways, Ms Party went on to DJ as “DJ Olwee”, later changing the name to the more edgy “Ms Party.”
He has played in various clubs across South Africa and its neighbouring countries. Venues vary from House Parties to Festivals; he has done it all.
His popularity is also propelled by his other job as a TV Director. He has worked on the top reality TV shows in the country including Life With Kelly Khumalo, Living The Dream With Somizi, Being Bonang, Kwa Mam’Mkhize and Lasizwe: Fake It Til You Make It, walking away with SAFTA awards for the shows in 2020 and 2021.
10 years since he started, Ms Party added a new hat to his name. With the release of Kings X Queens with features from Lady Du and Josiah de Disciple, he added the title of artist. The song is an anthem for the LGBTIQ.
“It’s not necessarily a protest song. We wanted something my community that we could jam to and see ourselves in the lyrics and know it’s for us. Beyoncé had Independent Woman for the girlies, I wanted something where my people can can take a reel as boys in heels and have a song that speaks to that.”
The Witch’s Flight is guided by the question; “What does freedom SOUND like?” Taking heed to this, amapiano becomes a portal and a sonic guide to diverse freedom dreams. The Witch’s Flight is the quest for a Black feminist sensibility structured in a series of sonic experimentations that center South Africa and the larger African diaspora.
On this month’s episode, Zama will be joined in conversation by DJ Cleo, mapping DJ Cleo’s impact on South African dance music culture and its influence on the contemporary landscape of amapiano.
DJ Cleo is a South African multi-award-winning musician, producer and DJ. Though he started DJing at age 17, his professional DJ career started at the age of 19 when he doubled as both a mix dj and a technical producer for Ashifa Shabba and Dj Fresh at Yfm. He now hosts and DJ’s a Friday night radio show on Radio 2000 ––“the Eskhaleni party.”
In this episode, we are in conversation with Mpho Sebina who is a Botswana-born and bred melodist, songwriter. She is also a Recording Academy Voting Member who has spread her wings across the music scene over the past couple of years. Her sound is Neo Soul and AfroIndie, performing for small acoustic audiences to large festival stages including Forbes Under 30 Pan African Welcome Celebration hosted in Gaborone , Botswana in May 2024. She debuted her first project in 2017, a six track EP titled “Neo'' featuring the hit song ‘No Evil’ which encompasses all of the musical elements that make and influence her from Setswana Folk to RnB to Hip Hop. In 2020 she released her sophomore project and debut album entitled “Lora” to a well-received audience with standout songs ‘Dikeledi’ and ‘Dumelang’. She released her “love letter to Africa” titled “Alkebulan on the 10th of October 2024 , a 5 track EP that features females artist from Across the continent.
This month in celebration of Black History Month, Zama has a special episode lined up honoring personal narratives spanning from Nigeria, South-Africa, Black Los Angeles and beyond.
Our astrologer, Monique Ruffin will be joining us for part two of our astrological forecast for 2025. Since we are also celebrating Valentine’s Day month, our astrologer will speak to us about the function of “Venus” which is the planet that governs love, pleasure and creativity.
In the second hour, joining us in-studio is Akin Omotoso, a Nigeria-South African filmmaker and director known for his thought-provoking storytelling and visual artistry. Whilst Omotoso has captured the interest of Hollywood directing Rise, a Disney+ biopic about NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo and contributing to Beyonce’s 2020 visual musical Black is King, he seems to maintain the edge of a griot, story-teller, and ultimately a filmmaker of decolonial makings. Omotoso continues to be a leading voice in African and global cinema, balancing commercial and independent projects while championing African narratives on the world stage.
In this intimate conversation with director/writer/producer, Akin Omotoso, I demonstrate a Black feminist consideration of the ways in which African filmmakers such as Omotoso contend with gendered and racialized visual histories in order to produce subversive images of Blackness. Omotoso was born to a Barbadian mother and a Nigerian father and had lived in both places before being uprooted go to South Africa. Thus, I contend that he embodies the practice of diaspora and collapses rigid understandings of “home”, “place” and “identity”––these themes can be traced throughout his extensive filmography. Whilst Omotoso has captured the interest of Hollywood by directing Disney’s 2022 film: Rise and contributing to Beyonce’s visual musical Black is King, he seems to maintain the edge of a griot, story-teller, and ultimately a filmmaker of decolonial makings.