Unveiling the Beauty of Ndebele Art: Exploring the Rich Heritage of Ndebele Artists

The Ndebele are a tribe of South African people located in the provinces of Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo, and North West. Ndebele art initially served as a visual language, and it has told centuries of stories while conveying Ndebele cultural values. 

Ndebele art has inspired new generations of South African artists. On occasion, Ndebele artists have also shared their cherished traditions with international galleries. However, it’s important to note that the Ndebele art community often retains a sense of privacy, a choice rooted in the historical impact of colonialism. In the following exploration, we delve into the captivating and culturally rich world of Ndebele art, tracing its origins to its present state.

The Origins of Ndebele Art

The early roots of artistic traditions among the northern and southern groups of the Ndebele people date back to the 19th century. When the neighboring Boer population began and won a territorial dispute in 1883, the Ndebele people were dispersed. In many cases, Ndebele people were forced to work as indentured servants for Boer farmers.

During this period, the Ndebele people may have used their art to visually represent their grief and resist oppression. Ndebele artists, though, have been hesitant to reveal their exact motives to art historians given the history of Ndebele people being colonized and marginalized. Nevertheless, one may perceive Ndebele works of art as bold declarations of pride in one’s heritage. It can also be argued that Ndebele art has preserved Ndebele traditions and cultural identity for future generations. 

It is known for nearly certain that Ndebele women primarily carried these artistic traditions. While Ndebele men constructed homes for their families, women were responsible for painting them. The exteriors and walls of these homes, along with pottery, clothes, and household items, became Ndebele painters’ canvases.

Early Ndebele artists dipped chicken feathers, their fingers and, later, brushes in natural pigments, and they painted bold geometric patterns with vibrant colors. The meanings and inspirations behind this artwork remain embedded in the culture of this South African community, scarcely shared with other cultures and curious researchers.

Exploring Ndebele Art Forms, Techniques, and Symbolism

For centuries, Ndebele women have meticulously crafted and worn beadwork, a source of inspiration for Ndebele art. This jewelry held a central role in ceremonies like weddings and initiations, reflecting a woman’s fertility, virginity, and her connection with her family and community through its colors, patterns, and designs.

Similarly, the patterns adorning Ndebele homes aren’t merely decorative; they possess profound cultural significance. Often, these designs function as a coded language, signifying the homeowner’s age, gender, and social status. Among households of the highest standing, there was a spirited competition, typically led by women, to create intricate and lavish designs.

Ndebele designs are rich with symbolism, incorporating black outlines to emphasize their bold forms. Zigzags, for instance, symbolize the highs and lows of Ndebele life, evoking imagery of lightning’s power and force. Triangular patterns frequently represented Ndebele homes, mirroring the shape of their roofs, or depicted the towering mountain peaks that surrounded their landscape.

The vivid colors within Ndebele art carry layered meanings. Colors like black, for instance, may symbolize rebirth or sadness, while red can evoke both love and intense emotions. White, the predominant background color in Ndebele homes, is exclusively associated with positive attributes like purity, cleanliness, and spiritual connection.

Esther Mahlangu: Globally Celebrated Ndebele Artist

Although Ndebele artists typically keep their motivations to themselves, one artist has broken with tradition and shared more of Ndebele art with the world. The artist Esther Mahlangu was one of the first people to introduce Ndebele art to regions beyond South Africa. Naturally, she has become one of the most widely known names within this art style. Mahlangu’s works of art are prime embodiments of Ndebele art and artistic concepts.

As a young woman, Mahlangu began learning painting and beadwork, following the Ndebele tradition. Over the years, she took her artistry beyond wall paintings and chose canvases as her preferred surfaces. Today, she uses her experiences and traditions to showcase the beauty of Ndebele art. The vibrant colors and intricate geometric patterns she uses in her work point directly to the traditions and origins of this art style. 

Mahlangu’s art has appeared on a variety of surfaces, including helmets, mannequins, and the tails of planes. Her most notable piece of art, though, came from a partnership with, of all possible entities, BMW. The car manufacturer commissioned Mahlangu to paint a BMW 525i for its Art Car Series in 1991. This made her the first woman — and first non-Western artist — to design a BMW Art Car.

Mahlangu wrapped the car in traditional Ndebele style. Green, pink, blue, and yellow fill the geometric patterns across the car, and precise drawings of triangles and squares directly reference Ndebele traditional art. This partnership gave Mahlangu worldwide recognition.

Other Creators of Ndebele Art

While Mahlangu has earned worldwide recognition for her works, many other artists create works of art that closely adhere to Ndebele traditions. The following artists are women, testifying to the notion that Ndebele female figures have primarily carried this art form from centuries ago to today.

Francina Ndimande (b.1940)

Like many Ndebele women, Francina Ndimande (also spelled “Franzina”) has always been a painter at heart. She and her two oldest daughters painted their house in Mabhoko Camp, which is located in KwaNdebele (known as the “place of the Ndebele”). The exterior of their home displays traditional Ndebele shapes, colors, and abstract designs.

Terracotta, yellow, and crepe pink are some of the many colors that create a stark contrast between the home’s roof and the nature surrounding it. Several of Ndimande’s other works depict what resemble grand entrances to large homes, while others are comprised mostly of blocks of abstract designs.

Angelina Ndimande (b.1960)

Angelina Ndimande is Francina Ndimande’s daughter and has followed the traditions of both her mother and previous generations of Ndebele women. Much of her work includes the zigzag patterns, triangles, squared angles, and precise lines that are common in Ndebele art.

Anna Mahlangu

Anna Mahlangu uses the classical traditions of her people to paint images that look much like the facades of homes. She takes these concepts and lays them out as bold designs painted on paper. Mahlangu also designs and creates necklaces, some of which include the bright colors found in traditional Ndebele paintings.

Ndebele Art’s Influence on Contemporary Art

While Ndebele art is a powerful form of expression within South Africa, it has crossed borders and influenced art around the world. The widespread acceptance of Esther Mahlangu’s works in particular has exposed people to a visual language once kept private among the Ndebele people. In fact, Mahlangu’s art has been displayed at institutions worldwide. These include The Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, and the British Museum in London.

Though Ndebele art has been elevated to larger platforms, its signature traits have remained unchanged by outside influences. Bright colors and bold designs still characterize this distinct art style. Artists have used Ndebele concepts to design jewelry such as neck rings and beaded necklaces and sell them on international marketplaces. Hand-beaded dolls and textiles with Ndebele art references are also common.

Ndebele art’s impact extends even into Eurocentric artistic expressions. French artist Camille Walala, for instance, openly acknowledges Ndebele art as a major source of inspiration for many of her murals and installations. While questions of appropriation might arise, Walala’s explicit acknowledgment and credit to Ndebele art suggest a genuine appreciation and a deep understanding of its cultural significance.

Bold Expressions of Private Lives

Ndebele art has risen from centuries of cultural traditions to inspire contemporary works worldwide. While people outside the Ndebele community may never fully understand the meaning behind Ndebele art, its colorful, sharp patterns continue to spark awe and interest. If anything, learning about the many different forms of contemporary and ancient African art can move artists and viewers closer to understanding Ndebele works. After all, African art, including Ndebele works, may rank among the all-time most impactful forms of visual expression.