Visual artist Reggie Khumalo’s The Last African Supper in Berlin pays tribute to African women’s resilient spirit

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

South African visual artist Reggie Khumalo is currently enjoying an amazing spotlight in Berlin, Germany, where is has completed an arts residency and where on Monday he unveiled his giant art piece titled African Last Supper, that pays tribute to the enduring spirit of African women.

The African last Supper is a stunning piece of art work that has the power to take a viewer into a sacred space of African women’s power that lies behind some of their remarkable qualities, such as the ability to not only carry the scars that are  result of the rough environment that they find themselves in. The piece also alludes to the fact that these women whose weight of challenges would breakdown and destroy lesser human beings, seem to have in them, a certain strength that carries them through these challenges until they actually triumph.

Since Khumalo posted this piece on social media yesterday, he has been receiving a lot of compliments from many quarters and not only because the piece is beautiful aesthetically, but there is more to it. In this piece and more importantly because Khumalo has managed in a remarkable way, to represent conceptually visually, what many people have come to acknowledge, and that is  the rare quality of African women to go through so much and yet they seem not to lose themselves as they regroup themselves intellectually and spiritually, and face the world with confidence, grace and courage after undergoing so much.

In this piece Khumalo has managed to bring out all these qualities without hiding the pain that women in Africa face, particularly Gender Based Violence, which unfortunately has reached pandemic proportions in South Africa as we speak..

“I finally unveiled my 10 meter master piece titled : The last African Supper.

In the economy of Gender equality, the black womenis at the bottom. Inspite of this, she still finds a heart to love, care, nurture, and lead from there. She is the pillar of the village.  She is the pillar of Africa.

Most people ask me why l paint black women’s faces. For me understanding my role as a man, l have had to dig deep in understanding the matriarch in me. l have done that through the study of painting these wonder women. 

I’m in awe of her strength, l’m moved by her humbleness. I’m lifted by her courage. I have found her to be the centre of UBUNTU.. To know Ubuntu is to know her,” Khumalo says about this piece.

Philanthropy

Khumalo is also a philanthropist who has used art to assist those who are less privileged.  A few years ago in our several encounters in Maboneng, who told me about his travels throughout Africa mainly on a bike to raise money for charitable causes, such as when he raised money to assist in providing education causes in as far as Mozambique.

“Its not enough to be just an artist. But l want to paint the picture and be in it too, to help communities in Africa from proceeds of my work has been a blessing to me. It has healed my heart. Let’s share our privilege 

Thank you to my adopted mom Sindi Mabaso Koyana, for showing someone’s child Ubuntu. Thank you to all the wonder women who have supported my journey thus far. Thank you to @deboreve and Lola Castro ofand the rest of the @worldfoodprogramme team in believing in me. Thank you for the platform to reach the most vulnerable, with no food. Thank you @satellitesofart for the opportunity to do residency in Berlin.

Thank you to my friends at the Spanish Embassies for the support and assistance always. Thank you to my Team @mmabatho @brightndlov and my home gallery @mmarthouse @bishoponbedford 

Thank you to others, that are too many to mention and of course to yourself for following my journey. Let’s share the heart of UBUNTU (l am because you are).”: He wrote on his timeline after unveiling this piece on Monday.