Woza Moya is honoured to have Muziwakhe Mhlongo as our artist of the month for September 2021 with his painting Sign from the Forefathers. The painting depicts the rite of passage of a traditional healer.

The painting is on auction for the month of September 2021 and you are invited to place a bid. Bidding starts at R1500 and will close on 30 September 2021. The person who has the highest bid gets to purchase the painting. The artist, who has already been paid for the painting, will get a further percentage of the auction price.

We would like to thank the 100% Foundation for coming on board with a 12 month sponsorship of the Woza Moya Artist’s Wall and making this monthly event possible. Muziwakhe Mhlongo is the fourth artist featured.

About Muziwakhe Mhlongo:

Muziwakhe Mhlongo is 39 years old, he was born in KwaMashu which is located in Durban KwaZulu-Natal. Growing up he was always passionate about fine art, and was enrolled at Centec Durban Technical College. Due to financial problems, he was unable to finish his art course, but continued to draw and paint on his own. Sibusiso Duma who is a well-known Durban artist, has been a great mentor to Muziwakhe and helped him with enrolling in courses run through the Phansi museum. Muziwakhe continues to draw and paint.

 Sign from the Forefathers:

The picture depicts the Chosen One with the ancestral gift (Sangoma/Traditional healer). Sangomas/traditional healers have a rite of passage which can be divided into 3 phases; separation (leaving the familiar), transition (a time of testing, learning and growth), and return (incorporation and reintegration). The Chosen One wears a spiritual garment that connects to the ancestors. Most Sangoma/Traditional healers/novices (thwasas) wear red, symbolizing the transformatory process that the apprentice is undergoing. The Sangoma is a wanderer of borders and boundaries and confronts within himself/herself the unknown spiritual terrain of the ancestors. The bull represents the blood as you are the light between the living and the dead.

African ancestor belief is the main belief system in South Africa, and Sangomas or traditional healers are the central to this practice. Sangomas play a role in interpreting communication with ancestors, and thus contribute to the health and spiritual well-being of their communities. Animal sacrifice is not the only factor in this belief system, but it still plays an important role in this process. Some use it to request healing, protection or rain. It is also a common ceremonial practice in some traditional households, where the ritual marks births, deaths, and weddings.

A bit more about the Woza Moya and our Artist’s Wall:

Woza Moya is an economic empowerment project of the Hillcrest AIDs Centre Trust. We provide retail outlets for local crafters and artists to sell their work. Our main focus is Zulu beadwork and wirework but we also showcase the work of a selection of local, talented artists. Our offices and main craft shop are located at The Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust, 26 Old Main Rd, Hillcrest, Durban. In addition to this we have a smaller shop at Windermere Centre in Durban and a growing online store.

Each month a different Artist is paid to paint a 1,2m x 1,2m wall panel which is displayed on the wall outside our Hillcrest shop. Woza Moya assists the artist by marketing their work for the entire month their work is on display. A greeting card is made of the painted wall panel and sold in our shops so that artists can earn an ongoing passive income.

Artist’s Greeting Cards

The Woza Moya Artist’s Cards were designed to give the artists an ongoing passive income. Each artist gets a 50% share of the profits every time one of their cards sell.