For episode 2 I had an amazing conversation for Creativity Knows No Borders - this time with Cinthia Sifa Mulanga! As a fellow foreign creative, our chat hit close to home as we explored her journey from Lubumbashi to becoming one of Africa's most exciting artists.

You know what's wild? Despite collaborating with Gucci and having solo shows in London, Cinthia can't attend her own international exhibitions because of the same documentation challenges many of us face. We got real about the early days - learning new languages, navigating taxis while trying to hide your accent, and finding community through art.

What really struck me was how Cinthia never actually planned to be an artist. She wanted to be a journalist! But through community art programs and her brother's influence, she found her voice in painting. Now she creates these powerful works about Black women and space, even as she navigates her own limitations on physical movement.

We dug into the real talk about being "foreign" while representing South Africa globally, using social media to transcend borders when you can't travel, and that constant feeling of growing beyond spaces you can't physically leave. Cinthia's story shows both the incredible possibilities and frustrating limitations of being a creative in Africa right now.

This episode is for anyone who's ever felt stuck between spaces or wondered how creativity finds a way despite borders. Give it a listen and let me know your thoughts on borders and creativity.

This content is created as part of the Move Africa project, commissioned by the African Union Commission and supported by Africa No Filter (ANF) with funding from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the GIZ, the African Union or ANF.