Bio
Timiya Miyen (also credited as Timiya Mhlari) is a South African producer, writer, voice artist, presenter and company owner best known for hosting the SABC2 talk show Vusaseki.
She hails from Elim, a small village in Makhado, Limpopo province. She started her television career in 2002 as a presenter on Take 5, an SABC1 daily educational programme about issues faced by young people, from relationships to health, education, family, friends, careers, music and more.
Timiya has since presented a number of television shows including the SABC1 magazine reality programme Vukúzenzele (2005); Kgotla, a legal talk show on SABC2 (2006); the SABC2 educational program 48 Hours (2007); the SABC2 educational reality show Tswellopele (2008-2010); and Talk SA on SABC2, a traveling talk show, from 2008-2011.
Timiya can converse in all 11 South African languages and speaks one Zimbabwean language. Her talent for languages kicked off her career behind the scenes. On her recording off-days she volunteered her time to do subtitles for Take 5.
With time, she learned the edit suite and started editing, which gave her a passion for storytelling, shifting mindsets and impacting people's lives. This realisation propelled her to become a producer.
She has since produced a number of shows for SABC Education, including Take 5, 48 Hours, Treasure Hunt, Eish I Know!, Mind the Gap, Whip the Chef, Tswellopele and Talk SA.
She also took over as host of the SABC2 talk show Vusaseki in Season 4 from Tintswalo Mushwana, who hosted the first three seasons.
She has recorded and produced a number of voices for radio and television adverts, PSAs and documentaries. Some of the campaigns she has worked on include MTN, The Department of Health, Anglo Platinum, Miracle Rising (documentary), Soul City, Hansa, The South African Post Office, White Star and the Department of Transport, amongst others.
Timiya is also the founder of Native Bird Media, a motion graphics, television and film production company based in Johannesburg.