Wherever you go during your southern African safari you will encounter fascinating expressions of creativity. These artists of Africa may be found on city streets, at craft markets, in elegant galleries and even alongside the road.
One such African artist is taking the world by storm with her colourful Ndebele paintings.
Painting Her Way to Fame and Glory
Esther Mahlangu, is one of the most recent African artists to be recognised for her talents. Her work can be seen on the streets of New York, adorning luxury vehicles, in the British Museum, the Centre de la Villette in Paris and the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC.
Now 81-years old this accomplished artist has been practicing her craft since a young age. She learnt to interpret and recreate the intricate patterns of her people from her grandmother. Traditionally, all Ndebele women are taught how to paint these colourful murals as a rite of passage.
A beautifully painted home is considered the trademark of a good wife and mother in the Ndebele culture and a matter of great pride among the villagers.
Art on Cars
Esther has taken her passion for these artworks to another level. She first caught the attention of the international stage in 1989 where she was selected to participate in the Magicians of the World European art exposition. She was commissioned by BMW to create the first African Art Car for this display.
Her work was an instant hit and she has since completed another Art Car for the luxury vehicle manufacturer. She was the first non-European and woman, ever commissioned to work on one of these cars, joining the ranks of Andy Warhol, Frank Stella and David Hockney.
Latest Accomplishments
The latest feather in Esther Mahlangu’s headpiece is a huge colourful mural at the Citi bike station where West Broadway meets Franklin Street. This masterpiece was created in her honor by New York based artist, Imani Shanklin. It forms part of a collaboration between SA Tourism and Citi Bike to celebrate Women’s Bike Month last September.
This follows a long list of accomplishments including many awards and exhibitions.
Just as importantly, Esther focuses on giving back by teaching young girls the art of traditional Ndebele painting and encouraging an appreciation of art among her students.
Ndebele Art in South Africa
You don’t need to travel all the way to New York to appreciate traditional Ndebele art. There are several appreciation centers and villages around South Africa where you can enjoy this and other aspects of this local tradition.
The Botshabelo open air museum in Mpumalanga is one of them and there is another in Gauteng. Get in touch to tag these onto your itinerary of southern African safari explorations.
