Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Peace Mabe will host an Ambassadors’ Luncheon in celebration of Azibuyele Emasisweni, an exhibition by internationally acclaimed SA Artist, Sculptor, Poet, Writer and Academic Professor Pitika Ntuli.
Ntuli is regarded as one of SA’s leading cultural figures, with work spanning visual arts, literature, academia, philosophy and politics.
Speaking about the exhibition, Ntuli said Azibuyele Emasisweni means “return to the source”, but not in a way that keeps people in the past. “Azibuyele Emasisweni means we return to the source, not to go and stay there, but to pick up the strengths of wisdom that our ancestors have left for us,” Ntuli said.
Ntuli said the exhibition comes at a time when the country is also reflecting on heritage and leadership during the month associated with former President Nelson Mandela. “We are at the beginning celebration about Madiba month. That is another source we need to go back to,” Ntuli said.
The exhibition features 45 bone and bead sculptures. Each sculpture includes a QR code that allows audiences to engage with spoken or written responses connected to the artwork.
Ntuli said the exhibition is not only an individual artistic project, but also a collaborative work involving contributors from across the world. “It is not just an exhibition by me, but in a true sense, I am together with co-partners,” Ntuli said.
According to Ntuli, one of the bones was sent to 33 contributors in countries including Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, the United Kingdom and India. The responses helped expand the exhibition into a broader artistic conversation. “There must be over 50 poems that are represented in that exhibition as it stands,” Ntuli said.
The exhibition has already received international recognition, winning the Global Fine Arts Awards People’s Choice honour.
Ntuli said the recognition showed that audiences around the world had connected with the exhibition virtually. “This exhibition, a couple of years ago, won the Global Fine Arts Awards People’s Choice,” Ntuli said.
Ntuli said arts and culture remain important tools for dialogue, diplomacy and nation-building.
According to Ntuli, the Ambassadors’ Luncheon is significant because diplomats from different countries represent audiences that helped support the exhibition internationally.
Ntuli said Mabe’s decision to recognise the diplomatic community is an important gesture. “That’s a very progressive stand for the Deputy Minister,” Ntuli said.
Ntuli added that Azibuyele Emasisweni is also an intergenerational exhibition, curated by young curator Rosie Rasike and involving several artists, poets and cultural voices.
–ChannelAfrica–
