“She was more ambitious for me than I was for myself.” It’s a simple sentence, but one that captures the heart of bestselling author, columnist and cultural commentator Khaya Dlanga.
Fresh off the announcement of his partnership with iconic Highland single malt whisky brand Glenmorangie as part of its pan-African The Height of Character campaign, Dlanga reflected on the experiences and lessons that have shaped the person he is today.
The campaign brings together three influential African storytellers, Dlanga, Kenyan actress Kate Kamau and Nigerian musician and creative executive Darey Art Alade, to celebrate the connection between craftsmanship, patience and character.
While the collaboration centres on storytelling, Dlanga’s own story is rooted in something much closer to home.
Speaking candidly about his late mother, he recalled how she encouraged him in quiet but powerful ways.
“She wasn’t the kind of person who pushed you in obvious ways. She pushed you without you even realising you were being pushed.”
Dlanga revealed that his mother often reminded him that he was “a lucky child”, something he only fully understood years later. Whether luck exists or not, he has chosen to embrace the confidence that comes with believing in possibility.
“If an opportunity comes for me, I need to believe it’s going to go well.”
Despite his public confidence, Dlanga admitted self-belief doesn’t always come naturally. “I know I look very optimistic, but I’m a natural doubter.”
Yet rather than allowing doubt to define him, he has learnt to keep hoping.
“It’s better to be disappointed while hoping for something than not hope at all. Because what kind of life is that? If you don’t hope, you’re not dreaming bigger. You’re not believing you can do more than you think you’re capable of.”
That philosophy extends to how he deals with setbacks. Dlanga’s resilience, he says, comes from remembering where he started.
“I know what it’s like to have nothing. It didn’t kill me. It didn’t destroy me.”
Because of that, failure no longer carries the same fear. “Not having anything again isn’t likely to destroy me either. I can always get up again.”
For someone who has built a career telling stories with honesty and wit, authenticity remains one of his core values.
In an era dominated by carefully curated social media feeds, Dlanga believes there’s value in showing the full picture.
“Everyone looks polished on social media. They’re always in Paris or New York, but they don’t show where they come from.”
He believes people who find success have a responsibility to acknowledge their beginnings.
“It’s important to show where you’ve been. If we find ourselves in a position of success, we have a responsibility to show people where we started.”
Perhaps the most moving reflection came when he spoke about staying grounded. “Home is where you don’t really fall. Home catches you.”
It’s a fitting thought for someone whose career has taken him from rural South Africa to becoming one of the country’s most recognisable cultural voices, and now onto a global stage with Glenmorangie.
While the partnership celebrates craft developed over generations, Dlanga’s own journey is a reminder that character, much like storytelling, is built over time, through hope, resilience and never forgetting where you come from.
