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). She is the co-founder of Yo CiTY, a platform that champions the culturally diverse experience through Art & music. 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's Latest Articles

Dirt Poor Islanders. Image on left is an author shot from the thighs up of a young Islander woman all in black with long black hair and her arms crossed in front of her against a red backdrop. On the right is a book cover of an empty yellow drink can with pink flowers wound around it. Winnie Dunn.
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Book review: Dirt Poor Islanders, Winnie Dunn

Winnie Dunn's debut is the first novel to explore the diffusion of a Tongan-Australian culture.

Jennifer Wong. Image is a headshot of a smiling woman of Asian appearance wearing glasses. She has long dark hair and a side parting, plus a pink shirt. Her head is slightly tilted to the right.
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Comedy review: Jennifer Wong: The Sweet and Sour Hour Power, Chinese Museum, MICF 2024

A night of clever puns and interactive fun.

Image is a wall with a neon sign saying HEADLINERS above a picture of an Asian man and a smiling Black woman looking up.
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Comedy review: Headliners with Joel Kim Booster and Zainab Johnson, Melbourne Town Hall, MICF 2024

This unlikely pair of Americans dazzled at this year's MICF.

Four female and non-binary people stand in a group facing the camera, one is sitting at the front wearing light blue, the others are standing behind her. All five wear a T shirt with breasts and crosses for nipples drawn on in texta.
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Comedy review: Breast of the Fest, Trades Hall, MICF 2024

A showcase of emerging female and non-binary performers.

Image is an armless bust with a microphone for a head and a full pink bra.
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Comedy review: Raise the Bra, Queen Victoria Women's Centre, MICF 2024

Graphic humour laced with tales of lived experience.

A headshot of a bald headed man of Egyptian heritage, wearing a black T shirt, against a red backdrop with curved lines emanating from his head to look as if he is broadcasting/radiating.
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Comedy review: Akmal: Red Flags, Athenaeum Theatre, MICF 2024

A MICF stalwart returns to the stage and continues to impress.

Image is a red, yellow and pink illustration of a Chinese dragon.
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Comedy review: Crazy Funny Asians, Kicks Bar, MICF 2024

Asian comedians in a high-energy show foster moments of genuine connection and lighthearted laughter.

The Hate Race. A woman in blue is standing on a stage marked with yellow and brown wavy patterns. She next to a bicycle and there is a large half circle light shape on the back wall.
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Theatre review: The Hate Race, Malthouse Theatre

Maxine Beneba Clarke's memoir receives a poignant and powerful adaptation.

It Lights the Whole Sky. Image is a choral group spread through a gallery space, standing on a multicoloured rug surrounded by 19th century paintings of weather phenomena and storms, singing. They all wear black suits and ties, and white shirts.
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Performance review: Alchemy Consort: It Lights the Whole Sky, National Gallery of Victoria

Choral music performances that explored the connection between humanity and natural phenomena.

Afrocentric. Image is black dancer, dressed in white performing in gallery space at front of the NGV, beside a large black sculpture of a young black woman. There is audience seated around the space.
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Performance review: Afrocentric, National Gallery of Victoria

Nightly performances that celebrate the African diaspora in Australia.

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