Artist Tshifhiwa Mutheiwana from Lufule 1 near Sibasa uses his art to celebrate and promote African heritage in the modern world. The 27-year-old's work aims to inspire appreciation for African traditions and cultural values.
His journey began at Lutandale Primary School, where he first gained attention for his sketches on schoolbooks. His talent was quickly recognised by classmates, who would pay for his drawings. He continued to refine his craft during high school at Phaswana Secondary.
Mutheiwana eventually realised that his passion for art was a calling, allowing him to connect with people and share cultural stories.
"The message I want to convey through my artwork is that our heritage is beautiful and should not be altered to fit into the modern world. My works depict the richness of African culture, including our traditions, morals, and history," he said.
A few years after starting out, Mutheiwana relied heavily on YouTube tutorials to sharpen his skills. "I learned a lot online, but eventually I realised it's not about copying others' work. It's about seeing my own art through my artistic eye. That's when real growth happened."
After matriculating, Mutheiwana enrolled at the University of Venda in 2018 to pursue media studies. However, in 2020, he made the bold decision to drop out and pursue his passion for art full-time.
"For parents and family, there's often an expectation for one to attend university after high school. Visual art isn't always well understood, especially in village areas," he said.
Today, Mutheiwana combines modern techniques with traditional themes to create artwork that is both compelling and meaningful. "The response from my clients has been amazing. Most people can't believe my work is real at first. The compliments and feedback I receive are incredible," he said.