Amid Heritage Month festivities, a Ndebele-inspired mural was unveiled at the Mall of Africa during the weekend in honour of legendary cultural ambassador and artist, Dr Esther Mahlangu.
The artwork marked history as it is the first South African mural to pay homage to Mahlangu, including being the first large-scale Ndebele mural created on staircases.
The concept of the Ndebele inspired mural was initially tabled in 2018 by MyArts International, however, the project was approved this year by Waterfall City.
Waterfall City, owned by Attacq, is a smart and world-class city in the precincts of Johannesburg.
The mural highlighted another milestone of the ongoing Waterfall City Beautification Project.
MyArts International collaborated with Mmabona Foundation, where it engaged with Mafikeng-based artists to contribute to the completion of the mural.
MyArts International chief director, Denis Ackulay, stressed corporate South Africa holds a critical role in nurturing local talent and embracing innovative artistic ideas.
“We began this project in 2018 with the initial mural slated for Sandton, outside the Convention Centre. However, due to bureaucratic hurdles related to public road usage, we redirected our efforts towards the Mall of Africa and Waterfall City, aligning the project with their beautification initiatives.
“When you visit Waterfall City or Mall of Africa, know in your heart that my talented team and I worked day and night to make this dream a reality,” said Ackulay.
Initially, Ackulay approached various stakeholders such as the Johannesburg Road Agency (JRA), Sandton Mall, Melrose Arch, Joburg Municipality and OR Tambo International Airport (Ortia), among others.
He added that another project was in the pipeline, noting it will help expose local artists to an international audience.
“We are excited about future initiatives like this, which are already in the pipeline, not just for South Africa but also for international collaborations that will allow our local artists to showcase their talents in major cities worldwide. Our next project will emphasise inclusivity by featuring more female artists, ensuring equal opportunities within the creative community,” said Ackulay.
The unveiling event was graced by Mpumalanga MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Leah Mabuza; renowned musician Nathi Mankayi, including Attacq CEO, Jackie van Niekerk, who echoed Ackulay’s words.
Van Niekerk said Attacq is committed to fostering the country’s creative sector.
The Star
hope.mafu@inl.co.za