Njabulo “ILLA N” Phekani is a South African architect, television producer, music producer, and creative director whose work straddles multiple disciplines with a singular vision: to craft socially resonant, future-facing creative solutions. A Director at Local Studio, Phekani has played an integral role in shaping some of the firm’s most celebrated projects, contributing to its reputation for bold, context-sensitive design. His personal accolades include winning the 2016 AIA Continental Europe Conference in Girne, North Cyprus as a Team Lead.

Driven by a passion for storytelling in all its forms, “ILLA N” extends his creative reach beyond architecture into film and television. As a producer with Passionlane Productions, he has been nominated for a South African Film and Television Award (SAFTA) as Producer on Uthando Nesthembu, affirming his ability to create powerful, culturally grounded content that resonates with a wide audience. His work in television reflects the same sensitivity to human narrative and spatial experience that informs his architectural thinking.

In music, he is known by the moniker “ILLA N”, one half of the experimental duo The Charles Géne Suite. His sonic productions blend hip-hop, R&B, jazz, and soul, reflecting an evolving South African sound rooted in heritage yet unafraid of innovation. Across mediums, his work explores identity, transformation, and the tension between memory and modernity.

Njabulo Phekani exemplifies a new generation of creative entrepreneur: agile, interdisciplinary, and deeply committed to impact. Whether designing civic architecture, producing socially reflective television, or shaping experimental music, he brings a distinctive vision that bridges form, function, and feeling.