Mthokozisi S'thembiso Hlela is a Zulu drummer.

S'thembiso was born in Mpumuza, (Pietermaritzburg¹, South Africa). He started as an actor in school and later joined a community theatre group in Clermont, directed by Vusi Shashu. He then joined Umzansi Arts Centre under the direction of Vusi Kunene and the late Nathi Kunene².

S'thembiso was a member of the Surialanga Dance Company - a dance company that fused Zulu, Gumboot³ and Indian dancing. Formerly also a percussionist in the famous African Footprints ⁴ and travelled to Morroco and India with them.

He has learned from a number of West African percussionists like Brice Wassy (Cammeroon)⁵, Emmanuel Gomando (Ghana), Nii tety Tete (Ghana), Elli Kihoinia (Congo), Africa Mindie (Ghana) and Sazi Dlamini from South Africa - his mentor.

He has studied sound engineering, trades in indigenous African musical instruments, performs music and is an aspirant film-maker.

_{Footnotes:
1 Pietermartizburg on Google Maps
2 actor, playwriter, voiceover artist and director.
3 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumboot_dance
4 www.africanfootprint.com
5 brice.wassy.free.fr}