Masana Rafuma (29) is well known in Nzhelele Tshituni Tsha Fhasi for her beautiful artwork. Her love of drawing took form when she was just nine years old, and over the years, her fascination with the arts developed into an impressive skill.
"I came back from school one day and asked my mother to help me with my homework, and she drew me a fish. As a child, I was amazed by how real the fish looked, and I wanted to be as good as she was. From that day onwards, I started drawing cartoons from TV shows, and my love for drawing just grew. During my high school days, I participated in art competitions with other schools. I never won anything, but my love for drawing continued to grow," she said.
Today, Rafuma is a very skilled, self-taught pencil, oil pastel, acrylic, and watercolour artist. She says her burning desire to become a better artist is what motivates her to work hard. "I grew up with people telling me things like 'you are not good enough,' 'you won't make it,' and 'you can't.' This only sparked a determination in me and the desire to strive for perfection. I have found joy in realising that, with just a small wipe of the eraser, I can fix a mistake and change something until it is perfect. The never-ending desire to create and share my feelings through art makes me happy. I find peace in my artwork. It brings a smile to people's faces and connects them with each art piece without saying much."
Rafuma's artistic talent also enables her to provide for herself and her family. "Growing up in a poor family background and being raised by a single mother was never easy. There were days when I had to go to school without eating or having anything for lunch. But all I could do was to understand that my mother was trying, and not to ask for too much. This made me grow up a little faster than I probably should have. I did not have time to be a child; I had to think and be responsible like an adult. Drawing has been my escape from hunger. The little I got has been my bread and butter," she said.