The Moth returns to Johannesburg on March 26 and Lebo Mashile will host it once more

We Rise: The Moth in Johannesburg

By CityLife Arts Writer

On 26th March 2026, experience the magic of The Moth live and in-person. After a sold out show in 2024, The global storytelling organisation returns to Johannesburg at UJ Arts & Culture’s Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre. Tickets are R80 on Quicket https://www.quicket.co.za/events/356927-we-rise-the-moth-in-johannesburg/#/
 
The Moth is a New York based nonprofit organisation dedicated to connecting humanity through the power of personal storytelling. Since launching in 1997, its live programs, including Mainstage productions and StorySLAM open-mic competitions, have been the source of over 65,000 true and personal stories, told live and without notes. The Moth’s Global Community Program hosts intensive workshops across the globe, teaching the art of storytelling to advocates pushing for positive social impact. The Moth Podcast, which is downloaded tens of millions of times annually by listeners across the globe, can be found anywhere you get your podcasts. To learn more, visit themoth.org or find them on social media @mothstories.

Five storytellers from across Africa will take the stage on the 26th of March to share true, personal, ten-minute tales about forging new paths. Expect to laugh, gasp, and maybe even cover your eyes. This one night only event with unique stories of patience and perseverance will be hosted by activist and media personality, Lebogang Mashile, with Yogin Sullaphen as the musical guest.

Held around the world, The Moth Mainstage events take storytelling to new heights. They are live, candid, note-free, and deeply immersive in the way they connect people by highlighting both the diversity and commonality of human experience. At Moth Mainstage shows, five storytellers and a host take the stage to share a 10-12 minute personal story. Each story is true as remembered by the storyteller and crafted with the help of a Moth story Director.

Sarah Austin Jenness, the Executive Producer of The Moth and the director of this upcoming show says, “The last Moth Mainstage in Johannesburg was electric. The crowd was one of the most vibrant I’ve witnessed in my 20 years at The Moth. The recording of the show went on to become one of our most popular episodes of The Moth Podcast, and we’re thrilled to showcase five new storytellers on stage in March, with stories of perseverance. I thank the Gates Foundation for making this event possible, and Lebo Mashile for hosting once again! We can’t wait to be back.” 

Lebo Mashile is an award-winning writer, performer, producer, actress and activist. She is a South African household name who is most recognizable for her lyrical and gutsy poetry which has captivated audiences in 38 countries worldwide. In addition to her work as a voice over and recording artist, Mashile has acted both on stage and in film. You can catch her on Netflix’s Classified and in the Academy award nominated film, Hotel Rwanda.
 
Mashile says “I’m ecstatic to return as host of The Moth Mainstage in Johannesburg on 26 March 2026. The Moth feels like a living and digital shrine to the timeless power of storytelling in its rawest form. It’s a rare gift to guide an evening where truth and vulnerability take centre stage. In an increasingly polarised world, I look forward to holding space for voices that remind us how deeply connected we truly are.”

Get your tickets now for an unforgettable night of live storytelling.

Since its inception, The Moth has shared more than 60,000 personal stories to audiences around the world through platforms such as their live storytelling events, books, The Moth Podcast, and with storytelling workshops where advocates craft personal stories to use in raising awareness around critical global issues of our time. If you’re looking for more ways to connect with The Moth, log onto www.themoth.org,  find The Moth Podcast wherever you listen or pitch your story at https://themoth.org/share-your-story/pitchline

ABOUT THE MOTH
The Moth is a globally acclaimed nonprofit organization that celebrates the commonality and diversity of human experience through the art and craft of true, personal storytelling. Through live storytelling events, The Moth Podcast and storytelling workshops, The Moth aims to create a more empathetic world by connecting people from every background through the sharing of true stories. Learn more at www.themoth.org

The story behind The Moth’s name goes that it comes from the writer George Dawes Greens’s memories of his time spent in St. Simons Island, Georgia, “where neighbours would gather late at night on a friend’s porch to tell stories and drink bourbon as moths flew in through the broken screens and circled the porch light”. At the heart of the initiative is the desire to connect people from different backgrounds and walks of life by sharing what it means to be human and empathetic, by showcasing extraordinary personal stories from
 everyday people.
 
Watch The Moth here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ximhdM40F5w ;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5lE9Z-nRQg