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| Franzine
Ndimande |
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| Joyce
Ndimande |
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Ndebele
Artist
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Born
in South Africa
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We
interviewed
Joyce, who acted as our translator with Franzine
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After
a long two weeks of traveling through the Namibian desert
and Botswana, Paul,
Jean-Paul Dispaux and I finally returned
to South Africa where we had two more stops before ending
our safari in Johannesburg. The first stop was in a small
dusty town where we hoped to meet with some artists of the
Ndebele culture. I was familiar with some of their painting,
but otherwise, I really did not know what the Ndebeles were
all about. We spent an entire afternoon trying to find someone
who could direct us past the town's market place. Mainly
we met with blank stares and shoulder shrugs. At long last
we found ourselves at a Catholic Mission where one of the
Fathers finally understood what we were looking for. Or
perhaps I should say, WHO. Franzine Ndimande. The most internationally
renowned Ndebele artist. What I found so amazing about her
painting (and all Ndebele work), is that it is completely
freeform. No drawn design, no rulers. Just pure freehand
geometric paintings that are based completely on the individual
artist's (always a woman) resources (paint), and mindset.
Interestingly, the Ndebeles do not consider themselves to
be artists. Painting and beadwork are just a part of their
everyday activities.
Charity
Ellis
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Being
born and raised in South Africa as a white person during
a very tumultuous time did not serve me well in my exposure
to the myriad of tribes living in South Africa.
In returning back to South Africa after fifteen years
abroad, I made a special point of getting a better understanding
of the Ndebele tribe. The artwork they produce is very
unique to their culture. They have no formal training
and generally all of the women do the work.
Joyce
Ndimande, Franzine's daughter could speak English fairly
well and was a superb interpreter and interviewee.
I listened intently to what Joyce had to say about their
history and culture. It is now, only after leaving that
I realize what a special meeting it had been for me.
Paul
Jorgensen
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'The
Ndebele history begins about 350 years ago, when a section
of the Nguni, then migrating down the south-east coast of
Africa, diverged under the leadership of a man named Musi.
They wandered into the Transvaal, eventually settling on
the site of modern Pretoria. In their new home the migrant
people developed new styles of dress and art. The Sotho
of the Highveld named them maTebele or 'refugees'
and this became in their own native language Ndebele. The
original Sotho term has been corrupted to 'Matabele' by
Europeans. The Ndebele survived the troubles of the early
19th century by discreetly hiding in the bush. They never
possessed enough wealth to arouse the murderous attentions
of raiding Zulu bands. In the process of trying to remain
alive, however, they divided. One section remained immediately
north of Pretoria; a second section moved east to the Olifants
River, where they became known to the Europeans as the Mapochs,
from their chief Mabogo; a third section wandered northwards
into the area of modern Potgietersrus. A few other minor
sections of the Ndebele are found in different parts of
the Transvaal. Some sections disappeared entirely in the
tribal wars of the last century.'
Michael
Hegarty
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