Tankiso Mamabolo is a South African singer, songwriter, actor and award-winning playwright. She has released two albums: ‘Freedom Hurts Sometime’ (released independently) and ‘Thapo’ (released in collaboration with Milestone Studios).

After graduating from the UCT drama department in 2015, Tankiso co-wrote and performed in the award-winning play ‘The Fall’, which toured Europe, Britain, and the United States. The play won awards at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival and was mentioned on the New York Times critics’ choice list.

Tankiso has worked in musical theatre productions such as Marc Lottering’s ‘Aunty Merle The Musical’, earning Naledi and Fleur Du Cap Theatre award nominations for best supporting actress in a musical. In 2024, she won a Fleur Du Cap for best supporting actress for her work in the musical ‘Ziyana’.

Most recently, she played Mama Morton in ‘CHICAGO The Musical’. She has worked with prominent theatre directors such as Dr John Kani, Lara Foot, and Faniswa Yisa, and collaborated with artists like Mpilo May, earning an award in a London Festival for the most entertaining show.

Tankiso has self-produced shows at the Masambe Theatre, The Baxter Theatre, Greatmore Studios Trust, and the Waterfront Amphitheatre, often collaborating with other black women musicians. Her work explores themes including loss, love, oppression, rebellion, and existentialism.