RYSE Youth Month: Neo Lekhu on building creative spaces, solving problems and creating by all means

As South Africa marks Youth Month, YNews will profile young Johannesburg creatives who are shaping the city’s cultural landscape in their own unique ways.

For producer and project manager, Neo Lekhu, creativity has always been rooted in observation, adaptability and finding solutions where others see obstacles.

Growing up, she says one of her biggest influences was watching her mother navigate life’s challenges with determination and resourcefulness.

“She always found a solution whether it meant her asking for assistance or doing it alone. I have always found it quite powerful because in asking for help it did not admit weakness but it meant understanding other people’s strength and how that could help you in a moment of less confidence.”

That understanding of collaboration would later become the foundation of her career behind the scenes in South Africa’s creative industries.

Ironically, her introduction to the world of production happened by accident.

Lekhu recalls attending a casting she was never meant to be part of, landing a role in a commercial and becoming fascinated by the large team required to produce a short advertisement.

“I saw so many people behind the camera and underneath a tent watching from a monitor and I could not help but think; ‘why do they need so many people to shoot a 30-second ad?'”

A year later, while studying Logistics Management at university, she found herself shadowing a small film crew she met at a skate park. It was there that industry professionals encouraged her to pursue producing.

“My eyes lit up again and I have been freelancing ever since.”

Today, Lekhu works as a producer and project manager, a role she describes as both unpredictable and demanding.

“Being a producer and project manager means solving problems that people do not even know exist on set or at an event. The superpower is thinking ahead, of all possible scenarios and finding probable solutions to the best of your ability.”

Her responsibilities range from managing budgets and scouting locations to casting talent and coordinating creative teams.

“I go from handling budgets this week to casting the perfect fish for an editorial shoot. My work involves hiring people, finding locations, finalising creative ideas, casting the right people and always chasing deadlines.”

For Lekhu, being a young creative in South Africa comes with both opportunities and challenges.

“Being a young creative in South Africa today means creating by all means. Striving in adversity and knowing that what you have got to offer is not for you only but you are a vessel.”

She believes the modern creative economy often places pressure on artists to prioritise profitability over expression.

“Being a creative in this day and age is being told that you have the freedom to create but only if it can be capitalised.”

Reflecting on the legacy of the 1976 youth uprising, Lekhu sees parallels between past and present generations.

“They were youth fighting for their rights and we are still doing the exact same thing, just in a different medium. We refuse to comply and that on its own is a rebellion against the system built to make everyone robotic.”

As someone deeply involved in Johannesburg’s creative ecosystem, she says emerging talent continues to inspire her.

“Emerging talent does not care about what the neighbour is going to say, they are aiming for unimaginable heights and I love that so much.”

At the same time, she believes creatives need greater institutional support.

“The Joburg creative scene needs support in the means of funding from the City of Johannesburg initiatives and overall departments of arts and culture. Creatives should be able to create without feeling like they need to go through a humiliation ritual of feeling like their careers are meaningless.”

Asked what advice she would give to young creatives starting out, her answer is simple.

“Start. I do not even know what I am doing half of the time but you will learn as you go.”

As Youth Month continues, Lekhu’s story reflects the resilience, experimentation and ambition that define a new generation of Johannesburg creatives determined to create opportunities for themselves and others.

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe