Gcina, founder of Zanendaba Storytellers, was born in Durban on 24 th October 1958. She can fluently speak Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho and English. She matriculated in 1979 at Mfundisweni High School , and went on to study further in Journalism at Rhodes University . While she was studying she read the news for BBC Radio and wrote for the magazine "Learn and Teach". She also took interest in a 6 month film making course.

Gcina enjoys international recognition as a poet, playwrite, actress, short story writer and storyteller. Gcina is best described as a multimedia performer. She is also a well-known television and radio personality. Gcina's love for poetry and acting got her a lead in "Umongikasi - The Nurse" by Maishe Maponya, which later toured England , Irelnad, Holland and Switzerland .

Storytelling has taken Gcina to all corners of the world. She has also traveled extensively as a visiting lecturer locally and abroad to Brandeis University , Boston , USA ; Kyoto Sayka University in Japan ; Edge Hill, Lancashire , England .

In May 1994 Gcina was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the London Open University in England . Other awards include an OBIE Award for Best Actress in New York , 1987, and the Joseph Jefferson Award in Chicago , 1998.

In California in May 1994 she released an album of children's songs and stories with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Gcina is the author of many children's books e.g.:

"Have you seen Zandile?"

"The snake with Seven Heads"

"Queen of the Tortoises"

"The Singing Dog"

"Hi! Zoleka"

Gcina was the director of Zanendaba Storytellers in Johannesburg , an organisation committed to promoting and preserving the ancient artform of storytelling and to putting this into the schools syllabus where it belongs.