The Ndebele's art is above all a women business. The tribe owes them the international recognition of its art. To their inspirations, their desires, which they paint without drafts (lines, or preliminary models) on the houses and whose everyday objects they bead, dolls with knives sleeves, and up to their necks.
In this minority tribe, art has a social function : the decoration of the facades and walls of the houses with brown, red, yellow, blue – the most common motif which is of the « razor blade » – geometric figures, is performed on the occasion of the " Wela " ceremony, an initiation rite for young men.
In Middleburg, next to the charming farm house The Corn and Cob, is a replica of some Ndebele houses.
Like the Masai, the Ndebele have managed to maintain, enrich and make known their art to the greatest number, thanks in especially to women like Esther Mahlangu, discovered by the French public in 1989 during an exhibition.
After this event, Esther kept collaborating and made a tour of world museums.
She painted an art car for BMW and a Fiat 500 for the exhibition " Why Africa ? "
A plane for British Airways
and a limited edition bottle of Belvedere Vodka for AIDS (#Makeadifference campaign).
Some of her paintings :
The woman who paints with chicken feathers travelled the world with her art, but returned to her country to teach the girls of her tribe.
Twerk at the Ndebele's !
