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About Us

NUMXN is a youth-led non-profit organisation seeking to address the systemic harm of inequitable access to arts education and creative opportunities, particularly for youths who are from rural and township areas. We recognise that structural barriers limit artistic and intellectual expression for many young people, reinforcing cycles of exclusion within education, the creative and cultural industries, and the broader economy.

Through our initiatives, we strive to create platforms for all types of creatives to develop their craft, showcase their work, and contribute to broader conversations on art, culture, and society. Our work is rooted in the belief that access to creative opportunities is not a privilege, but a necessity for individual and collective growth.

NUMXN is a non-profit company registered in South Africa (Registration Number: 2024/538103/08), and recognised as non-profit organisation by the Department of Social Development (317-980 NPO).

What's in the name?

numen

/ˈnjuːmən/

noun • Latin

the spirit or divine power presiding over a thing or place.

“Those who have taken on the responsibilities of this craft, and are committed to the numen behind the craft, are direct descendants of an immense and ancient community of holy people, troubadours, bands, griots, cantadoras, cantors, travelling poets, bums, hags and crazy people”

Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Women Who Run With The Wolves: Myths and Stories of The Wild Woman Archetype

To us, NUMXN represents vesselhood, using our platform as the embodiment of containment, flow and purpose. While “numen” is a neuter noun, the ‘X’ replaces the ‘e’ in “numen” to emphasise our inclusivity as a form of language and expression. It further outlines our advocacy for gender diversity and the varying forms of artistic expression that we seek to showcase.

Our Mission

To empower marginalised artists and creators by providing access, opportunities and platforms within the arts and humanities. We drive innovation in the South African cultural and creative industries while contributing to education, advocacy and local economies through art-inspired initiatives.

Our Vision

To cultivate and curate a vibrant cultural ecosystem where South African artistic works thrive on a global stage, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and building a sustainable future for the arts through education, patronage and community investment.

Meet the Team

Our team comprises creatives with diverse professional experience across multiple disciplines. Drawing from their varied backgrounds in both the public and private sectors, they are also deeply connected with established and emerging figures within the cultural and creative industries. Together, they lead NUMXN with a shared commitment to collaboration, artistic innovation, and organisational excellence.

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Co-Founder and Artistic Director

Tshifhiwa Itai Ratshiungo

Tshifhiwa Itai Ratshiungo (he/him), Co-founder and Artistic Director of NUMXN, is a writer, creative and cultural worker from South Africa. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of Numen of Story, a NUMXN initiative. His written work interrogates and explores themes of identity, memory, and Black history to evoke intergenerational conversations on language, culture and being. Among his notable achievements is having been a part of an arts advocacy movement which galvanised the South African government to provide relief funding to creative practitioners during covid-19 lockdown. He has also been published in initiatives powered by the European Union, Goethe Institut and French Institute of South Africa, among others. 

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Co-Founder and Creative Director

Bonolo Mokoena

Bonolo Mokoena, Co-founder and Creative Director of NUMXN, is a Marketing Communications professional with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Strategic Communications from the University of Johannesburg. She is also the Vice-Editor of Numen of Story, a NUMXN initiative. Passionate about the intersection of creativity and strategy, she is dedicated to shaping narratives that amplify voices in the arts, humanities and beyond. Through her work, she seeks to challenge conventional structures, foster critical discourse and create platforms that empower future generations of creatives and educate the masses on the importance of the humanities.

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Financial Director

Richard Sembani

Richard Sembani, Financial Director at NUMXN, is a passionate advocate for the arts and humanities who seamlessly integrates his leadership role as Financial Director of NUMXN with a profound commitment to cultural enrichment. As an active contributor to the #NoSTEMNoShade project, he champions the belief that every academic discipline is essential in fostering a balanced and innovative society. Richard is dedicated to preserving cultural heritage, inspiring critical thought, and driving progressive social change, all while leveraging his expertise in financial strategy, accounting, and systems analysis to empower creative and intellectual endeavors.

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Lead Projects Officer

Sinesipo Lubelwana

Sinesipo Lubelwana, Lead Projects Officer at NUMXN, is a naturally curious and creative professional with a background in storytelling and coordination. Born in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, she spent her early years moving between Bhisho, Cape Town, and East London, where she eventually matriculated. She holds an Honours degree in Motion Picture Medium, specialising in Film Producing from AFDA. Her experience in the film and television industry has deepened her appreciation for producing and the process of bringing ideas to life from concept to screen, while strengthening her ability to collaborate, pay attention to detail, and ensure projects run seamlessly. She values genuine connection and strives to bring warmth, empathy, and positive energy into every space, driven by a desire to create work that resonates and makes a meaningful impact.  

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Associate Curator: Editorial

Sunshine Motsepa

Sunshine Motsepa is a 2D animator, conversationalist, and Associate Curator (Editorial) at NUMXN. Her work is centred on the journey of reclaiming self, utilising the speculative lens of Afrofuturism to bridge cultural heritage with the avant-garde. Sunshine's creative journey began in digital design at Vega, where she first discovered the power of conceptual thinking, before refining her graphic skills at Central Johannesburg College. Currently specialising in 2D animation at NEMISA, she aims to bring a multi-dimensional perspective to editorial curation, blending visual storytelling with a deep commitment to high-level ideation and equitable access for creators.

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Associate Curator: Editorial and Research

Kgomotso Tsotetsi

Kgomotso Tsotetsi, Associate Curator (Editorial and Research) at NUMXN, is a multidisciplinary artist and storyteller whose work spans creative writing, poetry, and visual storytelling. Their practice explores memory, identity, and the quiet magic of everyday life through emotionally resonant and culturally grounded narratives. They have experience in journalism, content writing and editorial work and often bridge creative, academic, and strategic communication spaces, including student support and media engagement. Their work is deeply informed by African identity, youth culture, and contemporary expression, with a focus on amplifying overlooked voices and meaningful storytelling. Across all mediums, they maintain a multidisciplinary, experimental approach rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to pushing storytelling across forms and platforms.

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Lead Graphic Designer

Bontle Juku

Bontle Juku, Lead Graphic Designer at NUMXN, is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative producer from Centurion, South Africa. Working in her primary mediums of photography, visual arts and visual communication, she explores the visual representation of the lived black experience. Juku’s work is heavily informed by socio-political discourse, music, film, and an ongoing study into the historical and contemporary representation of Black people in visual media. Through her practice she pursues to be an arts educator, community builder and to connect marginalised artists to resources and networks.

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Associate Curator: Exhibitions

Tshiamo Machobane

Tshiamo Machobane, Associate Curator (Exhibitions) at NUMXN, is from the East Rand of Johannesburg, in a township called Daveyton. Tshiamo is a creative producer and visual storyteller. His work revolves around identity, memory and cultural narratives.

Policy Statements

At NUMXN, our policies reflect our dedication to the mission, vision, values and strategic objectives of our organisation. They provide clear guidelines on how we operate, ensuring transparency, integrity and inclusivity in all that we do. Here are some of the policies governing our decision-making, relationships, financial management and engagement with communities, reinforcing our commitment to ethical and responsible practices. We invite you to explore our policies to understand how we uphold ethical conduct, while advancing our cause.

Johannesburg, South Africa

+27 61 512 5484 | info@numxn.org

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© 2026 by NUMXN.

NUMXN is a non-profit company registered in South Africa in accordance with the Companies Act 71 of 2008 (Registration Number: 2024/538103/08), and recognised as a non-profit organisation by the Department of Social Development (317-980 NPO).

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