Celebrity funeral artist slammed for Akhumzi painting
Celebrity funeral artist Lebani Sirenje was hauled over the coals after a painting of TV star Akhumzi Jezile started doing the rounds on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.
Lebani has become well-known as the artist who attends celebrity memorials and funerals with his canvas, and paints pictures of the fallen stars as a gift to the grieving family.
However, when pictures of an unfinished portrait of Akhumzi made its way onto Twitter, fans were not impressed.
Hundreds of fans called the artist out, saying it was not a true depiction of Akhumzi and that it did not do justice to his personality.
Last month Lebani was also lambasted after he painted a picture of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
The painting caused a huge storm on social media with mobs of angry people lashing out at him.
Lebani has painted portraits of former president Nelson Mandela‚ Albertina Sisulu‚ gospel stars Lundi Tyamara, Sfiso Ncwane and Mandoza in the past.
A local artist depicts the happy smile that Akhumzi's close friends say he always wore #AkhumziJezileMemorial #akhumzimemorial pic.twitter.com/LkE4pbCKZQ
— DRUM magazine (@DrumMagazine) May 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/KaraboThae/status/992077344901910530
That's not Akhumzi eh https://t.co/CitGcuSRsL
— D Mash Swaggy (@DewayneSwaggy) May 3, 2018
Hayi asi- Akhumzi lo! https://t.co/cf7ER7dDN1
— THE DRACULA! (@queen_dracula) May 3, 2018
https://twitter.com/Khaswi_/status/992058890329128960
https://twitter.com/OviistoDeyi/status/992058113447645185
https://twitter.com/_Thato_N/status/992049319133040640
Akhumzi died along with Siyasanga Kobese, Thobani Mselani and two others in a car crash near Queenstown last Saturday morning. Akhumzi will be laid to rest at Westpark Cemetery after a funeral service on Saturday.
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