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People: Andrew Nhlangwini
This website features a series of seven paintings about the Xhosa Cattle-Killing by artist Andrew Nhlangwini. In April 2004, Nhlangwini displayed these paintings at the KwaZulu Natal Society of Arts as part of his exhibition, "The prophecy of the Cattle Killing of 1856/7 known as the Ibali lika Nongqawuse." A description of this exhibition can be found on the KZNSA webiste, and a review appeared in ArtThrob. Nhlangwini may be reached by e-mail at Andrew.Nhlangwini@nmmu.ac.za.
The paintings are reproduced here with permission from the artist, who has been kind enough to provide a brief statement on his work, past and present.
 Letter of Motivation
My name is Andrew Nhlangwini. I am currently a lecturer in the School of art Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University previously known as Port Elizabeth Technikon.
From the year 1995 till present, I extensively taught the following: Formal and experimental Drawing. Interdisciplinary Studies. Perceptual studies, co-present and co-ordinate 2D Design, 2-D Painting and 3-D studies. For the past five years I have been teaching only 2D painting as my special area.
I have studied the art History of the world and currently I am involved with teaching of African and South African art every third semester. Because of my multi-lingual advantage (speaking all official languages) I managed to finish my MAFA based on the African Folklore, beliefs and oral tradition and the way it affects the art.
 Specifically I researched on the Visual interpretation of traditional Xhosa historical events, specifically the 1856 event (Oral Tradition) as the Xhosa people and the iimbongi tell it.
The research project dealt with the visual artist’s ability to interpret / translate / transliterate the message of the oral tradition as it applies to the (ibali) historical story (event). In this case, I chose the historical story of Nongqawuse as told by the various Xhosa tribes in the Eastern Cape and am attempting to determine the following, viz.:
The importance, that the Xhosa tribes under investigation give to the oral tradition of Nongqawuse today; and the characteristics of the linguistic devices/visual imagery/symbols of the oral tradition of the Xhosa tribe in the Eastern Cape Region, especially as they pertain to the story of Nongqawuse.
I have been a full participating member of the academic team of the undergraduate studies for the past eleven years.
In this regard I would like further my knowledge by learning more about the historical events similar to the South African cattle killing of 185/7. I would like to research the North American Indian Ghost dance (1890).
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