ARCHIVE: Reframing the Zulu Narrative: Minenkulu's Divine Dialogues

In Joburg, Zulus are often stereotypically classified as violent, vulgar, illiterate, security guards, taxi drivers, and even some say a stubborn nation due to their history. However, Minenkulu views this reasoning differently.

In his recent body of work, Ingxoxo Ya Makholwa – Conversation of the Believers, Minenkulu presents a serene sense of integrity, a fluid conversation, and dignified postures of figures, as if birds are attending a conference hosted by invisible angels. The atmosphere is simple yet invites the viewer to witness the embodiment of a religious presence in human form.

Through his innovative use of the charcoal-monoprint printmaking technique, Minenkulu communicates his subject matter with a soft tonal touch in charcoal. His theme is informed by the Christian dominance in the Shembe Community, also known as Amanazaretha, and their lifestyle.

The white, classically draped garments worn by the bare-footed figures in his work present a different image from the commonly accepted assumptions about the Zulu nation. The figures seem to inhabit heaven on earth, appearing pure yet with dirty feet.

"From afar, the Amanazaretha look like a flock of chickens on a farm. I am inspired by the flat Transvaal landscape, which makes my figures appear as though they are on a theatre stage," says Minenkulu Ngoyi in the interview.

His creative vision captures the gentle movement, the calm visual appearance, and the religious humour of the people. The recurring lines that outline the form suggest the depth and resonance of a religious feeling and the sculptural weight of their presence.

By Khehla Chepape Makgato  

July 2011  

Newtown