Ndebele art: a must-see art from South Africa

As a culture lover, I want to talk to you today about Ndebele art. If you have the chance to go to South Africa. The murals of the Ndebele people are a must-see. They are part of a very rich cultural heritage.

9 characteristics of this art

• Their abstract art mixes painting and architecture. It is a model of aesthetic and architectural order.
• The architecture of their house is colourful with geometric patterns. The patterns are painted on the inside and outside of the walls.
• The Ndebele men are responsible for building the houses and the architecture. The houses are built with dried mud, branches, clay, tree trunks and a mixture of dung.
• The role of the women is to paint the facades of the houses with bright and vivid colours. From generation to generation, they hold the know-how of wall paintings, beaded jewellery and other ritual objects. It is an initiation painting that the women pass on to their daughters.
• At that time, Ndebele women painted walls with their fingers. From 1960 onwards, they started using chicken feathers or brushes to paint. Originally, they used earthy and natural pigments to paint their murals.

• Today, with the discovery of acrylic and vinyl paints, the colours of the Ndebele designs have become more brilliant, colourful and vibrant. Ndebele women paint with brushes. They add blue, red, yellow and green colours to their designs.
• The murals express the identity of the Ndebele people, rites of passage and initiation ceremonies, prayers, values and feelings. They are initiation paintings.
• A major change has been added to this art, before there were only geometrical patterns. But with time, figurative patterns have been added. Another positive point is that the houses now have electricity and television.
• Ndebele bead jewellery designs are also known worldwide.  Most of the world's wealthy celebrities appreciate the jewellery they make.

Esther Mahlangu Nikwambi, Ndebele painter

From 1950 onwards, Ndebele art became known to the general public. The Ndebele painters finally received a source of income for their paintings.

Esther Mahlangu Nikwambi is one of the painters who exported this art. Her name is known internationally.     In 1989, Esther exhibited in Paris at the Magicians of the Earth exhibitions. In 1991, Esther Malangu was invited to paint a prototype of the new BMW 525i model. Esther's car, 11th in the Art Car Collection, is the first to be decorated by a female artist. In 2008, she was invited to paint another car. This is the model of the new Fiat 500. This car is beautiful. It mixes the sporty side with Ndebele architecture.

I hope you enjoyed our article on Ndebele art. Even though most Ndebele people don't paint their houses as much nowadays and have moved to the big cities. This art is part of a very rich cultural heritage to be discovered.

Do you know this art? Have you had the chance to go to South Africa? Your opinion counts, don't hesitate to share it with us.Take care, dear readers, we'll see you in the next article.