PALIMPSETS IN PONTE CITY
Website Team
Thirst & Company
Rin Kim
Algoryte
Architectural Designers
Adam Osman
Adam Osman is an architectural designer and researcher based in Tokyo. He currently leads brickstreet an interdisciplinary architecture, research, and design collective located between Johannesburg and Tokyo. He holds a master’s degree in architecture from the Graduate School of Architecture (GSA) at the University of Johannesburg. He taught in GSA Unit 14: Rogue Economies and Unit 18: Hyperreal Prototypes and worked at UrbanWorks and Counterspace Studio
Egan Thompson
Egan Thompson is a fourth-year architecture student pursuing a BArch, with certifications including Architecture CETA NQF5, Architecture HC NQF5 and HC Construction Project Management. Egan has gained experience working on a range of projects, from furniture to high-rise buildings. His work is driven by a passion for exploring unconventional designs, aiming to integrate the environment into architecture and transform brutalism into something innovative and beautiful. Egan constantly seeks to push boundaries, using architecture as a means of telling stories and challenging traditional perceptions.
Otumile Kepadisa
Otumile Kepadisa holds a Higher Certificate in Architectural Technology (NQF5) with certifications in solar installation and fire safety. He has gained experience working on a range of projects, including residential and commercial building design, remodeling, furniture and object design, and industrial and commercial solar installations. In 2024, he expanded his expertise into fire safety and protection.
Otumile’s work is driven by a commitment to sustainability and functionality, constantly exploring innovative solutions in architecture and construction.
Photogrammetry and 360-Degree Photography
Lele Ramphele
Lele is an architectural designer/researcher, artist and also none of those things. But his
work uses relatively accessible architectural and photographic tools as well as flash fiction and facsimile to coax a more inclusive reading of both personal and collective everyday processes and histories. In this story finding and telling he looks for generative value in the seemingly banal repetitive gestures to the obscure and reclusive material cultures and experiences. With his two siblings he has co-founded a space for these storytelling explorations called, m’lk collective
Translators
Lenah Hlamalane Moshwane (seSotho)
Lenah Hlamalane Moshwane is from Gauteng province in South Africa. Lenah is a language teacher with degrees in psychology, philosophy and anthropology. She is fluent in eight of the 11 official languages of South Africa and functional in French and Korean. She is also a dancer, singer, translator and author focusing on African literature as well as storytelling through which she aims to preserve the languages of Sepedi and Xitsonga. She enjoys sunsets during which she writes her poetry.
Mokoena Tlotliso Blessing (seSotho)
Lenah Hlamalane Moshwane is from Gauteng province in South Africa. Lenah is a language teacher with degrees in psychology, philosophy and anthropology. She is fluent in eight of the 11 official languages of South Africa and functional in French and Korean. She is also a dancer, singer, translator and author focusing on African literature as well as storytelling through which she aims to preserve the languages of Sepedi and Xitsonga. She enjoys sunsets during which she writes her poetry.
Sthembile Ndlovu (isiZulu)
With five years of experience as a Sesotho translator, Mokoena Tlotliso Blessing specializes in bridging communication gaps in Southern Africa. Proficient in Sesotho and skilled in IsiZulu, Sepedi, IsiXhosa, and SeTswana, Blessing excels in delivering accurate and culturally nuanced translations. His expertise ensures clear and effective communication across diverse linguistic landscapes, supporting various sectors from business to education. Passionate about language and cultural exchange, Blessing is committed to fostering understanding and collaboration through precise translation services.
Ayanda Mahlaba (isiZulu)
Nandipa Sipengane (isiZulu)
Nandipa Sipengane is an isiZulu language lector at Yale University’s Council on African Studies. She is from South Africa where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pretoria with a major in Business and Zulu. She holds an M.A in African Languages and Literature from the University of Wisconsin. Madison where she also taught Zulu. She has also taught Zulu at the University of Florida. Gainsville. Nandipa is particularly interested in ethnomusicology and the pedagogy of using Umbhaqanga music in the L2 classroom. She is fluent in isiZulu, isiXhosa and Sesotho.
Kuyabongeka Mayeza (isiZulu)
Kuyabongeka Mayeza is a passionate and skilled English to Zulu translator. She takes pride in bridging language gaps and promoting clear, culturally-accurate translations. Kuyabongeka was born and raised in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. As a result, her deep understanding of both the Zulu language and its cultural nuances allows her to provide translations that are not only linguistically accurate, but culturally relevant. She specializes in a wide range of fields including business, education, healthcare, and entertainment, ensuring that content is accessible and meaningful to Zulu speakers. She has worked on projects ranging from official documents to creative content.
Eric Mukwamba (French)
Eric Mukwamba is a computer science major at Bellevue College in Bellevue, Washington. Eric is originally from Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Fluent in both French and English, he is passionate about technology and coding, and is dedicated to building innovative solutions through his studies.
Andrew Delos Reyes (Portuguese)
Andrew Delos Reyes graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a BA in Latin American Studies. Though he works as a programmer and IT professional, he occasionally takes on roles as an interpreter or translator. A Southern California native of mixed African American and Filipino descent, Andrew is a lover of language and cultural diversity, easily enthralled by linguistic representations of world views outside of his own. He enjoys spending time with his family, teaching his children new things, and being outdoors.
Voice Actors
Puleng Stewart (English)
Puleng Stewart is an Eco AfroFuturist and cultural practitioner based in Cape Town, South Africa. She has been a professional voice artist for over a decade, featuring on hundreds of projects both locally and internationally. She is the voice of acclaimed author Johnny Steinberg’s recent book Winnie and Nelson: Portrait of a Marraige (PenguinRandomhouse) and is the longtime voice of the CNN series Inside Africa. She is interested in giving voice to African stories which make sense of our past and track our way into brighter more resilient futures. She believes that projects like Palimpsests in Ponte City represent exactly these sorts of vital stories
Sthembile Ndlovu (isiZulu and seSotho)
Sthembile Ndlovu is a skilled Zulu, Xhosa, and Sotho translator and voice artist based in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. With expertise in Zulu voice-over work, she brings authenticity and cultural nuance to every project. Her passion for language and storytelling ensures high-quality delivery tailored to diverse audiences
Fred Eric Ngangue (French)
Fred-Eric Ngangue is an African English and French voiceover talent whose voiceover career began in 2018 and quickly established himself as a versatile and sought-after talent in the industry. With a rich and dynamic voice, Fred-Eric has lent his vocal skills to hundreds of projects internationally and thousands of projects nationally. His impressive portfolio spans a wide range of genres, including commercials, storytelling, e-learning, audiobooks, novels, and dubbing. Fred-Eric’s ability to adapt his voice to different tones and styles has made him a favorite among clients worldwide. His dedication to delivering high-quality work, coupled with his professional approach, has earned him a reputation as a reliable and skilled voice-over artist. This dedication is reflected in his status as a Top-Rated Freelancer on UpWork, where he continues to attract new clients and maintain strong relationships with existing ones. Fred-Eric’s passion for voice acting and commitment to his craft have made him a leading figure in the voice-over community. Whether it’s bringing characters to life in an audiobook or delivering a compelling narration for an e-learning module, Fred-Eric’s voice resonates with audiences and leaves a lasting impression. As he continues to grow his career, Fred-Eric remains dedicated to honing his skills and providing exceptional voice-over services to clients around the globe.