Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Talented young artist dreams big
A BOY, old beyond his years, sees his drawings promoting social cohesion among the youth of different races.
Mbasela Primary school pupil Lungelo Mjwara, 12, who has been hailed by his teacher Victor Gcabashe as a “maestro in the making”, said his art was intended to promote social discourse and bring people together. He said his favourite drawings were portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela because they fought for freedom and brought about social cohesion at different epochs of their times.
The young lad’s talent was discovered last month by other Grade 6 pupils, who showed his drawings to Gcabashe.
When we visited the Inanda school, an elated staff, including Gcabashe, hastened to display Lungelo’s drawings on the wall inside the computer lab.
Gcabashe said he was speechless when he saw Lungelo’s work and he asked Lungelo to draw another piece in front of him. After that, he posted Lungelo’s drawings on social media which attracted more positive responses from his followers.“Lungelo has raw and organic talent which needs to be nurtured. In helping him, we want the world to know that we have eyes that see and hearts that feel. We can see and identify excellence and genius among us.
“We are able to feel Lungelo’s desire to be great one day, we hear his inner cry for help and we are stepping in to ensure he becomes one of the greatest artists South Africa has ever had.”
Growing up in a family that cannot afford a proper drawing kit such as markers, pastels, watercolours and other accessories does not dampen his spirit For a beautifully drawn portrait, all Lungelo requires are a piece of paper, a pencil and an eraser. A self-taught artist, he started taking drawing seriously about two years ago.
“I neither watch cartoons on television nor play games with other boys. My focus is always on drawing and I play soccer in my spare time.”
His family depended on his grandmother’s pension and child support grant to survive. Lungelo said he wanted to use art to change his family’s fortunes once he becomes a professional artist.
His unemployed mother Bonakuphi Mjwara, 36, said she was proud of her son’s talent.
She was overwhelmed when she saw his portrait of her.
“He is very unique in his approach to things. He often tells me I should not worry, he will support the family.”