An African Renaissance Icon : Mme Esther Mahlangu

(image via www.alchetron.com)

THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE

The African Renaissance is defined as a period in which Africa enjoys great development and refinement in its economy and culture. The African Renaissance calls for Africans to proudly embrace, enrich and take ownership of their diverse cultures. It calls for excellence in all spheres, be it art, architecture, industries and all other aspects that may define a nation.

In his paper, Col A.H. Louw reflected that "Although this latest revival plan for Africa, aimed at stabilizing, reconstructing and redeveloping the world’s poorest continent, is the result of a merger between President Mbeki’s Millennium African Recovery Program (MAP) and President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal’s Omega Plan it is not difficult to recognize the golden thread of the African Renaissance initiative in the final product.”

The African Renaissance may be broken into two different tiers, one being the revival and the rebirth of Africa where Africans are called to confront the harsh realities of conflict and deprivation in the continent and taking responsibility to reverse them.

This post will explore the second tier of the African Renaissance which explores the definition of “Renaissance” and puts it into an African context. The Cambridge dictionary defines The Renaissance as “the period of new growth of interest and activity in the areas of art, literature, and ideas in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries”. Insert Africa in the place of Europe and the 20^th/21^st Century and we see the embracing of African literature, art, culture, ideas and architecture. Insert Africa and we will be exploring the humility and benevolence of Ubuntu, the mathematical encoding in the Great Pyramid of Giza, the architecture of the African Renaissance Monument in Senegal, the brilliant authors of the continent, the diverse cultures, the rock art of the San and the rich story telling of tribes born from the King and Queens of this continent.

The African Renaissance Monument in Dakar, Senegal
(image via blackhistoryheroes.com)

African art and literature evokes a sense of pride within me. I believe that we wear the stories of this continent in our being. Our tongues are laced with the languages of those who came before us and our art reminds us of what has been conquered and what we continue to strive for… a restoration of our dignity as Africans and our wealth (not only in our minerals and industries, but in our arts and culture).

Speaking of African art, this post pays homage to a phenomenal South African artist whose art is recognized worldwide and has seen her collaborate with big luxury and premium brands because African art has always been rich in its interpretation.

MME ESTHER MAHLANGU

(image via pinterest)

Mme Esther Nikwambi Mahlangu is an 82 year old South African Ndebele artist. I refer to her as “Mme” as it is a sign of respect for an elder in SeTswana. It just would not feel right referring to her as Esther. Mme means mother or rather an elderly woman.

Mme Mahlangu comes from the lush and green province of Mpumalanga in South Africa. She belongs to the Ndebele tribe where it is tradition for the women to paint the exterior of their houses. When driving through the different towns and villages of Middelburg (in Mpumalanga), one is be welcomed by beautifully and artistically painted houses. Homes painted by women who have no degrees in Fine Art or Design but naturally follow their principles as if they hold doctorates in those studies.

Mme Mahlangu currently devotes most of her time to her local village, working on community projects where she teaches young women and girls techniques passed on to her by her mother and grandmother. She still maintains a strong presence in the international contemporary art scene too. Mme Mahlangu started painting at the age of 10 and her paintings can be characteristically identified by their geometric and colourful patterns. Her art references patterns seen in the jewelry and clothing of the Ndebele people. She does large scale paintings. Mme Mahlangu, like many other Ndebele women, learnt how to paint through oral tradition. Her technique was passed down from her mother who got it from her mother and so on and so forth. The technique used to achieve the overall symmetrical effect looks simplistic from an audience’s gaze but it is rather complex when taking into account the repetition of simple shapes that takes place… free hand.

Mme Esther Mahlangu at her home
(image via www.news24.com)

Mme Mahlangu’s work has transcended far past murals and canvases; her designs can also be found on sculptures, ceramics, vehicles and airplanes. Mme Mahlangu has also collaborated with a number of international brands such as BMW, Fiat, EYTYS, Melissa's, Belvedere and the British Museum.

(image via www.southafrica.net)

BMW 7 series interior
(image via www.bmwblog.com)

Her work can also been seen on the tails of planes of South African Airways and British Airways. Her designs have remained unapologetically Ndebele throughout the years and the authenticity of her brand has led to the attraction of multinational companies seeking to collaborate with her to appeal to an African audience too. This makes her a deserving icon of the African Renaissance in my eyes.

Mme Mahlangu’s launch to international acclaim took place in 1989 at the Les Magiciens de la Terre, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris , France.

(image via www.mahala.co.za)

In an interview with Sothebys.com, she was asked what her thoughts were on her artistic collaborations in which she responded; “It's very important for me to work with brands when they approach me. I can't say no to them because tomorrow, I might die and then at least other people will have my work on the objects I paint for them.”

During the Sothebys interview Mme Mahlangu also reflected further on a statement made by Romauld Hazoume about forgetting art schools as they were a western cultural idea and that we were born artists. Mme Mahlangu reinforced this point by saying “Because I cannot read and write, I made a joke yesterday that I want to go back to school. As a self-taught artist, out of necessity, art becomes your lifestyle. For me, this is much better than just academic qualification in the arts. When I started, I worked with natural pigments which I made myself. My work is powerful even if you put it next to somebody with the academic qualifications.”

And that to me, is an assertion of an African Renaissance Artist.

(image via www.afrohustler.com)

BELOW IS A LIST OF MME MAHLANGU’S  RECENT PROJECTS AND EXHIBITIONS:

Solo Exhibition

·         2016 Esther Mahlangu Individual 7 series BMW and accompanying exhibition co-curated by BMW and 34FineArt, Frieze Art Fair, London, UK

·         2015 Esther Mahlangu 80, curated by 34FineArt, UCT Irma Stern Museum, Cape Town, SA

·         2014 Esther Mahlangu: An Artistic Residency, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Virginia, USA

·         2012 Overlay, 34FineArt, Cape Town, SA

·         2010 Centro Espositivo St. Art, Calenzano, Italy

Selected exhibitions

·         2015 Imibala Gallery, Somerset West, SA

·         2015 Sneaker design with Swedish Company Eytys, Paris Fashion Week, France

·         2015 40 years of BMW Art Cars, BMW Museum, Munchen, Germany

·         2014 Traditional African Murals, Museum of African Art, Belgrade, Serbia

·         2014 Look Mickey!, 34FineArt, Cape Town, SA

Collections

·         Meulensteen Art Museum, Bratislava, Slovakia

·         The Pigozzi Collection, Geneva, Switzerland

·         Johnnic Communications Management Services Collection, Johannesburg, SA

·         Museum Bochum, Bochum, Germany

·         South African National Gallery, Iziko Museums, Cape Town, SA

Awards

·         2015 The Lilizela Tourism Award, Roots and culture, SA

·         2015 South African Traditional Music Achievement Awards, Life Time Achievement Award, SA

·         2013 1st Mbokodo Award, SA

·         2012 1st Mbokodo Award, South African Women in the Arts, SA

·         2010 Increasing Access to the Arts Award - 13th annual BASA Awards, SA

THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL BRANDS AND THE AFRICAN RENAISSANCE

(image via www.drinkmanila.com)

As the African economy continues to grow and the continent works on rebranding, redeveloping, reengineering, reindustrializing and reviving itself, brands have seen the importance of being a part of that narrative and it is imperative that African brands remain authentic and are sustainable.

Mme Mahlangu has not only managed to build herself as a brand, but she has also restored the oral traditions passed on to her by generations of women in her family by passing them down to other young women in local Ndebele villages in South Africa and by drawing the international spotlight on the Ndebele culture. She has managed to preserve the works of her culture on Belverdere bottles, airplane tails, iconic BMW vehicles and many other objects that will outlive her.

(image via www.drinkmanila.com)

Although some international brands have romanticized the dehumanization of Africans in elaborate campaign advertorials that feature models chained in deserts, there are some brands that have really done a great job in highlighting not only the plight but pleasures and treasures that only Africa holds through the wealth of its people and their stories. Brands only get their relationship right with Africa when they are genuinely interested in engaging with the continent and its diverse nations instead of making an accessory out of it.

Here’s to more authentic collaborations with authentic African Icons!!!

Reagoleboga Mme Esther Mahlangu (We thank you Ms. Esther Mahlangu).

Sources:

https://alchetron.com/Esther-Mahlangu-444638-W

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esther_Mahlangu

http://vgallery.co.za/estherpress/default.htm

http://www.sothebys.com/en/news-video/blogs/all-blogs/out-of-africa/2017/02/reinventing-tradition-esther-mahlangu.html