Co-Founder and Creative Director
Kabelo "Cabblow" Maaka is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Cabblow Studios an award-winning Animation & Illustration studio based in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2017 she partnered with her mother and business partner Dr Tshepo P. Maaka to form Cabblow Studios. The studio creates original short films, series, children's books & comics. With a special focus on medical animation, previous clients include: SANOFI, HealthForce & WITS Health Consortium. Kabelo has 8 years' experience taking on various roles including: Animation Director, Art Director, Production Manager, 2D Animator, Illustrator, Podcaster & Animation lecturer. She made her directorial debut with her Diabetes short film “3 Teaspoons of Sugar” in November 2019. The film has garnered over 20+ official international film festival selections including Annecy International Animation Festival 2020. Kabelo is a game changer and a visionary with a keen curiosity for life. She is a top 10 winner of the 5th annual Future is Female Africa awards 2023 and counted among the 2021Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans award under the Media Category. Kabelo is passionate about business education for Creative Entrepreneurs having started "The Business of Animation Podcast" in 2020 to share the lessons she is learning about running an animation studio and the inner workings of the industry. The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and elsewhere on the internet. Currently Kabelo and her team are developing the teen musical TV series "Rorisang & The Gurlz" now available to read as an online comic on the Webtoons Platform. The project was recently featured in Animation World Network and chosen at MipJunior 2022 & APD Stuttgart 2023. To keep up with the story follow Rorisang & her friends online @Rorisaaang on TikTok and Instagram. Kabelo "Cabblow" Maaka is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Cabblow Studios an award-winning Animation & Illustration studio based in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2017 she partnered with her mother and business partner Dr Tshepo P. Maaka to form Cabblow Studios. The studio creates original short films, series, children's books & comics. With a special focus on medical animation, previous clients include: SANOFI, HealthForce & WITS Health Consortium. Kabelo has 8 years' experience taking on various roles including: Animation Director, Art Director, Production Manager, 2D Animator, Illustrator, Podcaster & Animation lecturer. She made her directorial debut with her Diabetes short film “3 Teaspoons of Sugar” in November 2019. The film has garnered over 20+ official international film festival selections including Annecy International Animation Festival 2020. Kabelo is a game changer and a visionary with a keen curiosity for life. She is a top 10 winner of the 5th annual Future is Female Africa awards 2023 and counted among the 2021Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans award under the Media Category. Kabelo is passionate about business education for Creative Entrepreneurs having started "The Business of Animation Podcast" in 2020 to share the lessons she is learning about running an animation studio and the inner workings of the industry. The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and elsewhere on the internet. Currently Kabelo and her team are developing the teen musical TV series "Rorisang & The Gurlz" now available to read as an online comic on the Webtoons Platform. The project was recently featured in Animation World Network and chosen at MipJunior 2022 & APD Stuttgart 2023. To keep up with the story follow Rorisang & her friends online @Rorisaaang on TikTok and Instagram.
Get ready for a sneak peek into the vibrant world of "Rorisang and the Gurlz"! This exciting session will introduce you to a fresh, dynamic story that blends the energy of K-pop with the heart of AfroPop. Follow Rorisang, a K-pop superfan with big dreams, as she navigates the challenges of starting an AfroPop band in her conservative all-girls high school. With a backward choir Mistress standing in their way, Rorisang and her besties must pull out all the stops to prove their worth and reach for music superstardom. This session promises to be a fascinating look at a unique cross-cultural narrative that celebrates friendship, ambition, and the universal language of music. Join us for an inspiring glimpse into this colorful world where tradition meets pop culture, and dreams are worth fighting for!