Thokoza based photographers celebrated in style at a luncheon in Johannesburg
The event where drinks flowed and sumptuous food was served also celebrated the unique photography project of Soul and Joy’s success in South Africa, discovering young photography talent in Thokoza and turning them into global stars.
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
The event kicked off with Of Soul and Joy project manager Jabulani Dhlamini telling the audience, comprising mainly of journalists and a selection of photographers that have been mentored under the project into successful photographers with global impact and influence, telling us about his recent experience in Limpopo.
“We have just come back from Limpopo where we held workshops for young people in the community in Tzaneen, introducing them to the art of photography. What we found out is that there is a general lack of understanding what photography is and the role that the artform plays in creating visual narratives in communities. Shockingly even teachers are as ignorant as the young people they teach. And so we had to begin from the beginning by telling them what role photography can play in telling stories of the community as well as documenting and archiving their lives,” Dhlamini said.
Dhlamin then delved into how as a 13 -year-old growing up in the township, he simply loved the camera because of the street photographers that he knew. He became a street photographer himself, but never knew the possibilities that exist in photography beyond the confines of street practice till he was formally introduced to photography practice properly when he was in Matric.
Today not only is he a well-respected photography teacher and mentor, but he is credited in steering the Of Soul and Joy project, which has transformed the lives of many youngsters from the East Rand township of Thokoza, where the project is based.
Young people with intrest in the art of photography have not only been given space to dream and transform their lives through being exposed to photography, and recently to filmmaking skills, but also were exposed to the idea of photography as a viable professional career alternative to the traditional favourite professions among black communities-doctor, teacher and lawyer. And indeed, through Of Soul and Joy, a new crop of smart, hard-working and talented photographers whose photography projects are currently making waves internationally at photography fairs and major exhibitions and residencies around the world, have been discovered and mentored from the area.
Today, Tshepiso Mazibuko, Sibusiso Bheka, Lindokuhle Sobekwa and Vuyo Mabheka are making waves internationally, winning major global awards, going to prestigious residencies in major capitals of the world, such as Switzerland, Paris and Amsterdam, major arts centres where the art of photography has signficant collectors.
In fact Dhlamini was speaking at the luncheon of Soul and Joy at a Houghton Estate venue on Monday 9 December 2024 where Mazibuko, Mabheka and Bheka were celebrated for their success and where they had an opportunity to share their experiences at residencies and prestigious exhibitions they had this year. In May last year, And indeed the three have had a successful year of image making and exhibiting.
Thokoza-based photographer Mabheka took home one of the photography world’s highest accolades, the 2023/2024 Grand Prix Images Vevey Special Jury Prize for his captivating body of work, Popihuise.
In July this year, Mazibuko secured the Madame Figaro Photo Award (most outstanding work by a woman photographer) and the 2024 Discovery Louis Roederer Public Award (public vote/people’s choice for the main Discovery Louis Roederer Foundation Award) at the Recontresd’Arles photography festival, one of the world’s premier annual photography events held in France..
Mazibuko received these awards in recognition of her project, “Ho tshepantshepediyabontshepe,” (images attached) which looks at the impact of the political designation ‘born-free’ on South Africa’s post-1994 black youth generation.
Born in 1995 in Thokoza, South Africa, Mazibuko discovered photography in 2012 with Of Soul and Joy and completed her photography studies in 2016 at the Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg. She was awarded the 2017 Tierney scholarship and received the 2018 Prince Claus Award. She is a founding member of Umhlabathi, a collective of South African photographers.
Mazibuko had an opportunity in November this year to go back to France whereshe and Bheka collaborated in an exhibition titledUbusukuNemini (Day and Night)
as part of PhotoSaintGermain Festival October 30–November 23, 2024.
And therefore, indeed this luncheon was well deserved as the three of them have had a successful year.
And indeed, it was a double celebration of both the project that has made the dreams of these young photographers to become true and the photographers themselves. Of Soul and Joy was created by Rubis Mécénat in 2012 to enable young people from the township of Thokoza and surrounding areas of Johannesburg, to benefit from a framework and training in the field of photography. Indeed, this project has the distinction of being the most successful photography project of its kind in South Africa, whose fruits are there to see for those that have been following the work of Soul and joy over the years. What a cool way to end 2024 for these young visual art minds.