African value systems affirmed by Pitika Ntuli’s art

Azibuyele Emasisweni

ARTIST: Pitika Ntuli GENRE: Visual art, sculpture LANGUAGE: English AGES: All ages AVAILABLE FROM: June 27

Pitika Ntuli’s landmark exhibition Azibuyele Emasisweni, (Return to the Source), a result of three years’ work, debuts at the virtual National Arts Festival.

As a sangoma/healer, it was probably always on the cards that Ntuli would fashion art from animal bones (elephant, rhino, giraffe and horses), though beads, shells, chains, computer circuit boards, pins, animal skins, and marbles are also integrated in the works as part of a deliberate act of “picking up” interrupted African creative traditions.

“I see divination bones as sculptures imbued with multiple meanings. I believe that bones have spirits and consciousness, and it is that, that I seek to reveal in this exhibition,” says Ntuli.

The result is 45 haunting sculptures which can be viewed alongside the words and voices of Sibongile Khumalo, Zolani Mahola, Simphiwe Dana, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Gcina Mhlophe, and other respected musicians, poets. Initially conceptualised featuring just the sculptures, it was decided in the context of Covid-19 to present the exhibition embracing new formats and modes of presentation and so Pitika wrote and recorded 45 praise songs, one for each sculpture to present these as audio notes to accompany the images.

The first of its kind, it has been produced and conceived by the Melrose gallery, Ntuli and curator Ruzy Rusike.

“The uniqueness of Ntuli’s work arises from a deep pool of indigenous knowledge and wisdom and centuries old cultural tradition. From this angle one could argue that this exhibition affirms the significance of African value systems, which gives a sense of pride and hope to our people’s culture that has often been denigrated and marginalised by colonialism, and thus through this exhibition we are opening channels for healing,” said Minister Naledi Pandor, in praise of the exhibition at its opening at the National Arts Festival.

Given Ntuli is a respected artist, activist and academic — he was awarded the lifetime achiever award in 2013 by the Arts & Culture Trust – Azibuyele Emasisweni is one of the main highlights on the visual arts programme at this year’s virtual National Arts Festival.

When it was announced the festival would have to transform into a virtual one, the Melrose gallery, Rusike and Ntuli worked at delivering more than just a gallery of images of sculptures and so the idea of making it a collaboration was born.

Said Pandor: “This exhibition comes at the right time.The emphasis on healing has particular significance in the midst of the Covid pandemic and the uncertainty it has brought with it, which have given us an opportunity to reflect on our value systems and what we call the normal way of doing things.

Although the virtual link to the exhibition should have been accessible by June 27, it was unavailable at time of print, an alternative link to the exhibition, which includes a virtual chat between Pitika Ntuli and Ruzy Rusike, the curator, contextualising the exhibition is at