Zindzi Okenyo is a television and theatre actress and musician from
Sydney.[2] A graduate of the
National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA),[2] she is a presenter on Play School, and performs music professionally under the stage name Okenyo.[1] She is best known for the song "Woman's World",[5] from her debut
EP album, The Wave.[6]
Career
Music
In 2013, Okenyo signed to the promotional label Niche Productions,[7] and in 2016 to indie record Label
Elefant Traks.[4] Her debut single, "Broken Chest", was released in November 2013.[8]
"Woman's World" was nominated for Best Song on
FBi Radio in 2017.[9] The song was chosen for the
Women's National Basketball League 2017 Campaign,[10] and was also used in a US Apple Instagram Promotion.[11] Authors at the Noisey site, operated by
Vice (magazine), said of the song: "There is a self-awareness and empowerment in the lyrics and a defiant resolve in the message as she identifies misrepresentation in gender and sexual stereotypes"[12] with comparisons to artists like
Erykah Badu and
Janelle Monae. Okenyo and her song featured in the documentary Her Sound, Her Story"[13] about the "inequality of women in the Australian Music Industry".
"Woman's World 2.0" is a remix of "Woman's World" featuring Miss Blanks and
Jesswar.[14] The song was featured in
VicHealth's "This Girl Can - Victoria" television ad campaign.[15]
Okenyo's television credits include Play School, the role of Amanda in the Australian television series Sisters,[21][22] journalist Millie Hussey in the television drama series The Code, and Sophie in the series Janet King.[23]
In 2018, reflecting on her success as an actor and musician, she said, "It's really exciting because my identity and my artistry are starting to work together... I always imagined that happening because it's really important to me to explain myself and express myself in different ways."[24]
Theatre
Okenyo has performed in the following theatre productions: