About The Moth
It's too reductive to call the wildly popular The Moth a podcast, though this is its most wide-reaching claim to fame. Since it was founded in 1997 by poet and novelist George Dawes Green in his New York living room, The Moth has shared more than 60,000 stories with audiences around the world, with a podcast that's downloaded a not-insignificant 100 million times each year.
Today, The Moth, a non-profit organisation, also hosts a Peabody Award-winning radio show as well as live storytelling and open mic nights around the world, has published four critically acclaimed books, and runs custom workshops. Green himself describes The Moth as "a raconteurs' club". More ethereally speaking, we could call it a movement. Not away from, but towards that which we, as humans, have always congregated around, and conceivably always will.
We love the symbolism behind the name. The story goes that it comes from Green's memories of growing up 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". It's in this spirit that The Moth returns to Johannesburg for one night of shared stories at UJ's Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre. Our team was there for the 2024 edition, and it was undoubtedly a highlight. You'd be smart not to miss this.
Further reading: An interview with The Moth directors Jodi Powell and Sarah Austin Jenness.
Meet the storytellers on the Joburg 2026 line-up
For this edition, five diverse storytellers from across Africa take to the stage to share true, personal 10-minute stories under the theme, We Rise. Their stories, crafted with the help of The Moth producers, will be delivered candidly and completely note-free.– Bernard Mbugua Mugweru is a human rights defender, award-winning advocate, EndTB campaign champion, and climate justice advocate advancing equity for marginalised communities.
– Based in Kampala, Uganda, Brian Turyabagye co-founded MamaOpe Medicals to rethink respiratory disease diagnosis. A technologist focused on impact, he combines software development, signal analysis, and health systems integration to design empathetic solutions that scale for lasting change.
– Caroline Onwuezobe is a Nigerian public health professional advocating for the rights and well-being of children, youth, and the elderly. As a Maternal, Child Health and GBV Coordinator, she champions sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, and uses storytelling to inspire action and amplify community voices.
– Lebogang Mogashoa is a storyteller from Badimong village in Polokwane, now based in Cape Town. He began performing stories for friends and family, and later took to the stage while teaching English in South Korea, inspired by The Moth podcast. He is also the writer-creator of the Netflix series Savage Beauty.
– The fifth storyteller is to be announced.
Expect laughter, gasps, and moments that might even make you cover your eyes. Once again, this edition is hosted by Joburg's own award-winning poet, writer, and performer Lebogang Mashile whose presence alone is a treat: read our interview with Mashile here. Plus, there'll be a musical interlude with a performance by South African multi-instrumentalist, live music performer, and composer Yogin Sullaphen.
At the heart of the initiative is the desire to connect people from different backgrounds by sharing what it means to be human and empathetic through showcasing extraordinary personal stories from everyday people.
A highlight from 2024: Webster Isheanopa Makombe, The Breadwinner
Book your seats for this experience
We can't recommend The Moth's live shows highly enough, and we're delighted they are returning to Joburg on Thu, Mar 26 from 18:15 – 21:00 at UJ Arts & Culture's Keorapetse William Kgositsile Theatre at Kingsway Campus, Auckland Park. Book your seats here.To learn more, visit themoth.org or follow @mothstories on Instagram.
