Johannesburg - Lala Tuku was 13-years-old when she had her first taste of the entertainment industry.
“I was introduced to the arts at a very young age as a performer doing theatre. Back at that time we didn’t know that we could ‘career’ this industry so in my mom’s mind I was going to become a chartered accountant.”
The opportunity for her to attend the National School of the Arts and study drama as one of the first black children opened her to a new world.
“When you’re engulfed in a school that specialises in the arts, you really are in a safe space in a community where you can be anything you want to be.”
Tuku majored in directing and once she got into the industry, what she found was that the representation of women was only a hand count.
“It was a daunting yet exciting time to be getting into the industry. Daunting because it was a predominantly male industry. Black women in particular weren’t represented. The only places we were represented were in front of the screen and in catering. I came in wanting to direct and I was told that I had a pretty face and should do acting because there were no female directors, let alone black.”
Tuku did just that but after a while she realised that the stories being told weren’t being told from the black point of view.
“For us to shape our own voices we needed to be pragmatic and be honest about what the real challenges were. I wanted to understand who wrote the scripts, who directed the shows and that took me to the other side of industry.”
She said the biggest challenge at the time was the fact that because there were so few women in higher roles there was no one to talk to when men misused their power.
“I remember driving off a set and walking away from a television soapie. People don’t do that. When you get the work, you have to keep the work but there was something that was incredibly wrong and I walked away. I got word that I would never work again in the industry and I was confronted with a lot of ‘you have to do what you are told’.”
Tuku then decided to study for a marketing and communications degree. This led her to open her marketing company Corporate Icon which specialised in events. These days the company exports local content internationally.
“I went back into the entertainment industry when an opportunity with the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) arose. I came in as an events coordinator for the SAFTAs and moved on to become a stakeholder manager and I was responsible for the international relations for building and understanding the gaps in our industry. There were no female or black developed writers and other people would continue to tell our stories. You cannot be what you cannot see. It is important what our children see on the screens.”
Tuku then put her focus on the stories being told and by whom they were being told by. She went on to join Clive Morris Productions.
“As a producer I get the privilege of creating stories that best represent who we are. And because there are a few of us you have to represent everyone else.”
Tuku wears many hats; producer, actress, designer, mentor and businesswoman.
She attributes her go getter attitude to being intentional and focused in her work.
A Break with Lala
She now mentors younger talent through her NPO. She saw a space for young women who have a similar background to hers and wanted to be part of the industry.
“It was on women’s day that I offered my services and I was taken aback by how many young women reached out. So I decided to help about 20 of them and looked at what they wanted to achieve. I felt there was such a sense of desperation and fear as they faced the harsh realities. This wasn’t about what I could give back to them but it was also about my network. I have friends in the entertainment space and can ask them to mentor the women as well.”
Tuku wants to grow this platform as more than mentorship but also as a practical tool.
“We have to create tangible things that they can use. I am looking forward to building and opening doors and keeping seats at the table for these young women because we all deserve a break.”
Africa Rising International Film Festival (ARIFF)
As the chairperson of ARIFF, she feels this is where real change can happen in the industry.
“We are intentional about celebrating and archiving African stories with a focus on women and young people and queer members of a society. We wanted to highlight the voices that have been marginalised and sidelined. For us to rise as Africa we have to celebrate our history and local content.”
The festival has been around for the last three years.
Lala Land Luxury
A passion project she started while she was in a difficult place.
“I do all of these things and when you are the only one in certain spaces you do so much to prove yourself. I suffered a meltdown about two years ago and it met me at a point where I was just on the go. As black people we don’t talk about depression or exhaustion so Lala Land for me is creating the sleepwear that I wanted. When the exhaustion came and I was being nursed I realised how we take rest for granted. You cannot plant on a field that hasn’t rested.”
So Tuku started to meditate and look after herself more consciously.
“When you love yourself enough, you know what to say no to. You know how much you can take and realise rest is as important as the hustle. Lala Land talks to the rest component. I had trouble sleeping and my health took a dive so when I started introducing self love pockets into my life, everything changed.”
She calls her commercial brand ‘self care in luxury’.
“It is ok to love yourself and do it wholeheartedly. Only after you have done that can you be your best self for Monday to Friday.”
Tuku plans to add more products to the brand overtime.
Turning the big 40
Tuku celebrated her 40th birthday last week and it was a star studded affair with industry friends in attendance.
The biggest lesson she has learnt over the years is to unashamedly be herself.
“When you are honest with yourself, you know which spaces you can participate in, what you are good at. No matter who says what to you, you know what you bring to the table. Honesty makes you look at the realities of yourself, where you need to improve and what your strengths are. Always show up for yourself, it will cost you some people but above all always choose yourself,” she said.
The Star