Bafana Nyathi (18), an artist, illustrator and animator, is pushing his artistic capabilities by sketching struggle hero Brian Mbulelo Mazibuko.
The Thembisan fallen hero was, according to the Kempton Park Tembisa Tourism Association, a young South African anti-apartheid activist in the 1970s. He grew up in Thembisa.
Mazibuko was a Tembisa High School learner leader who, as an ANC, UDF, COSAS and Black Conscious Movement leader, was the first learner to protest against the Afrikaans language in 1973.
ALSO READ: Hospice East Rand to host remembrance event
In the political freedom struggle, he was a Tembisa Representative Student Council leader trained by Dan Montsisi and Tsietsi Mashinini.
Mazibuko was a gifted learner, and in just two years, he had advanced to four higher grades. He also matriculated on Robben Island.
Mazibuko was convicted and imprisoned in 1977 and released from Robben Island in 1982.
Mazibuko was hacked to death by an unidentified group of individuals in Thembisa on August 5, 1984.
Nyathi, working alongside Gata-Lenna, acknowledged the struggle icon by telling his story through art.
“Most people in Thembisa don’t even know the stories about Mazibuko and the protests during the late ’90s and ’80s.
“I thought I should use my talent in educating them about his work through art. This is why I enjoy every session in order to build the visual art on Mazibuko’s story.
“My work is to remind the youth of Thembisa and South Africa about our fallen heroes and to show what life back then was like.
“I introduce them to the struggles our heroes faced. Most of my work is related to people seen as struggle icons. My art screams of tough moments and has a message of creating awareness.”
Nyathi’s biggest influence comes from Thami Mnyele.“His work is mind-blowing to the point that Ekurhuleni created an art competition in his name.”
During his early years as an artist, Nyathi mostly drew cartoons.
“I started practising portraits and techniques on how to draw a realistic portrait using pencils, then started sketching people in 2018.
“Now my work focuses on icons. When I’ve completed an artwork, I share it on my social media for my fans to critique.
“The most effective way for me to connect with art collectors is to communicate with them enthusiastically about my art and ideas,” said Nyathi.
Also follow us on:
