Samanthole Arts Foundation

It is rather challenging for me to put in words the appreciation and admiration of Tlokwe Sehume's music. Factually his genre is described as “Mmino wa Thaba”, or music of the mountain' which is without a doubt music that journeys you into the wild, with therapeutic melodies of mountain birds here and complete variety of sounds emitted by wild animals there. It as an ancient sound inspired by African spirituality, which denudes a connection to the African lineage and ancestors. Tlokwe Sehume visiting my studio early 2020  Speaking to a James Mahlokwane of  IOL  Sehume punctuates his genre as a genre 'deeply rooted in African spirituality and inspired by the true connection Africans have with their ancestors'. From this statement one deduces the Pan-Africanism or Black Consciousness Sehume ascribes to. Tlokwe Sehume, his daughter Mpotseng Makgopa Sehume and band members performing at Joburg Theater in 2019  Personally, Sehume's music has made

It must have been early 2000s when I encountered the work of sister Bongi Bengu because I remember clearly the spreadpage profile in Y-Mag that featured largely local news on arts, culture and politics. The headline of the profile feature on Bengu, one page was ART IS LIFE and LIFE IS ART on the other. I must say that I did not have enough grasp of the English language to really understand that article then but the mere headline spoke to me and the pictures of her work captured my interests for the arts. This magazine was one of the treats my eldest brother  Leshoka Legate  used to offer me by securing copies of when he comes back home in Makotopong village.  Bongi Bengu, South African Artist At this time he was doing apprenticeship at the Bag Factory through The Artist Press. From then on I lived with Bengu on my walls for the next few years as I had plugged pages of the feature from the magazine on the walls of my room. The feature on Bengu became one of my inspirational

Self Portrait of George Milwa Mnyaluza Pemba (1912-2001) made in 1980 George Pemba was a South African painter and writer. During his lifetime, he illustrated a number of books and was also a teacher. Pemba dedicated his life to learning about his culture and traditions and they are emulated in his art. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Ikhamanga. Black artists then and now even when they're fully established, they're often referred to as emerging artists. I remember writing a  review of a Three man show called So Called Emerging Black Artists curated by a black sister Gaisang Sathekge featuring luminaries such as Professor Pitika Ntuli, Mbongeni Buthelezi and Vusi Mfupi.  Uhuru Celebrations of Independence, 1992, Oil on Board by George Pemba  The case of our grandmaster of South African visual arts, George Milwa Mnyaluza Pemba was a bit different because the scope of his output reveals the limitations of the generic term ‘township art’ which cer

We all find it embarrassing when foreign filmmakers are the ones making the biopics of South Africa’s history. A few films that focus on our historical past lack a local representation, making a huge gap because foreign stars play leads in telling our own stories. Even films about Nelson Mandela have been consistently driven by international production houses. It's a great highlight to have a local talent portraying a significant role of Mandela in An Act of Defiance film on Braam Fischer - South African lawyer of Afrikaner descent, notable for anti-apartheid activism and for the legal defence of anti-apartheid figures, including Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia Trial. And today's feature celebrates contributions by one of the most talented artists, Sello Motloung.  Sello Motloung vising my studio in 2018 Writing about An Act of Defiance biopic for channe24 , Gabi said "I also think it might be one of the first times that Mandela is played by a South African - Sel

Listening To A Distant Thunder was a retrospective solo exhibition that made it possible for me to meet Peter E. Clarke, an esteemed versatile artist, a book illustrator, a poet, a gifted writer of short stories, and a book-binder.   Peter E. Clarke holding his exhibition catalog book. Pic Credits: Leadership Magazine  This exhibition was displayed at the Standard Bank Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa. The exhibition - aimed at honouring Clarke’s life, work and contribution to art and cultural development in South Africa, was accompanied by a book of the same title, by curators Philippa Hobbs and Elizabeth Rankin. It must have been June 2011 when he conducted a walkabout which I attended. The gallery was packed to the brim with art students, fans, collectors curators and gallery trotters. FOR SOME, THE PATHWAY TO EDUCATION LIES BETWEEN THPRNS, Linocut 28 x 34.5 cm edition 14/22  I had seen his work of illustrations before, especially the color reduction of

Gregory Vuyani   Maqoma. Photo byLaurent Philippe Today's Blog feature is dedicated to one of our talented and humble creative professional, Vuyani Gregory Maqoma who represented the best of our talents on the global stage thereby giving the world 'a human face' as prophesied by the great freedom fight who fought the good fight for black emancipation from all sorts of imprisonment, Steve Bantu Biko. South African dancer, choreographer and director Gregory Maqoma founded Vuyani Dance Theatre in 1999 with the vision to build a platform for artists in South Africa and beyond – where collaboration could be a catalyst for breaking cultural barriers. With Gregory Vuyani Maqoma and Professor Zakes Mda in my studio 2019 The first encounter with Maqoma was back in 2012 in a foreign land of London at Southbank Centre where I was one of the three young creative delegates (Londiwe Langa - a singer, painter and scholar (who passed away early this year - may her s

I have been thinking alot about the contributions made by Selbourne Charlton Sobizwa Mvusi born on the 18th of June 1929 (a year his friend Peter E. Clarke was born) in Richmond, KwaZulu-Natal of South Africa. I was introduced to him or rather his work by his daughter Linda Mvusi (actress and architect) through a comment on one of my Facebook posts few years ago. This led me to research more on this great man whose contributions to the global arts are enormous however his life was cut short when he in 1967 Mvusi died tragically in a car accident outside Nairobi.  Few scholars, notably Elza Miles and Yusuf Hazara Ebrahim have studied his work and life thoroughly and I believe that more and more of African art scholars will dedicate their research on this inspirational figure. Below is information sourced from different sources but largely South African History Online to remember and celebrate our art ancestor Selbourne Charlton Sobizwa Mvusi. Thanks for leading the way for the many gene

In 2009, it must have been March or April, I sat across the table with David Nthubu Koloane for our first mentorship session. I was overwhelmed by the grace of his humility and wisdom. He spoke softly in a voice that constantly reminded me he is not 'Bra Day' to me but an elder, to which I personally requested that I call him 'GrandDay' and he chuckled at this gesture but approved.  Dr. David Koloane visiting my studio in 2016 to receive this gift I gave him for his role he played in the arts.  For the past years since 2009, I always phoned him to wish him a great birthday. Last time I did that is today last year. May his soul rest in peace.  I have met Granday years before this session, I have done so through my brothers Leshoka Legate and Philip Legate whom got to know him through my mother Maletsepe Makgato who worked at Artist Press Studio which was based at the Bag Factory in early 2000s. I remember in 2005 or 2006 my brother Philip had phoned me to wat

Seipati Seipati Bulane - Hopa is a pioneer in the black film industry. Her engagements include film producer and executive producer on the international co-production of Takalani Sesame, chairperson of the Independent Producer's Organization and founder member of Pan African Women in Film, an affiliate of Pan African Federation of Film-makers.  Seipati   Bulane-Hopa Photo credit Artmatters  I have met Mme Pati, as we affectionately call her, in 2016 during the occasion of PUKU Children's Literature Festival from a special invitation by the founder and director of PUKU Dr. Elinor Sisulu whom we affectionately call MaE. The festival which was held over a weekend, comprised of round-table-discussions where we were workshopped on how to approach literature writing for children. I was particularly impressed and inspired by Mme Pati's intellectual prowess and her warmth in sharing easily her wisdom with everyone. After the sessions I walked upto her and offered mysel

Born on 15 December 1925, Bopape was a pivotal figure in the music industry. He began his career in 1951 as an assistant talent scout for Record Industries. In 1955, he was recruited by  EMI South Africa  to become its main talent scout and producer of African music. At EMI, Bopape handled some of the country's most popular acts including girl group the  Dark City Sisters , pennywhistle band  Black Mambazo  and gospel quartet the  King's Messengers . Bopape also oversaw the birth and development of mbaqanga music by replacing African jazz players with new, younger session musicians. Rupert Bopape  In 1964, Bopape quit EMI and moved to  Gallo Record Company  (then known as Gallo Africa). At Gallo, Bopape was the executive head of the organisation's new division devoted to producing African music,  Mavuthela Music Company . Under Bopape's tutelage, Mavuthela pioneered the new, up-tempo mbaqanga music (often referred to as 'mgqashiyo') with electric ins