Photo exhibit explores what it means to be Zulu — by Zulus

What can we do to make sure that our history and culture don’t become a burden, but rather something that illuminates our future?

This is a loose translation of a line from the Russel Hlongwane authored exhibition statement for Nguni — Kwelakithi, recently showcasing the works of eight South African photographers of Zulu heritage at the UKZN Society of the Arts Gallery in Durban. 

Curated by Mandisa Buthelezi, the exhibition “convenes an orchestra of voices to imagine, erase, accept and contend with the contemporary question of being um’Zulu, particularly in one’s own cultural milieu; and in the world at large”.

Nguni Kwelakithi is an extension of work Buthelezi is doing in her personal capacity as a photographer. “I document the Nguni culture — particularly Zulu and Xhosa culture — quite a lot. I thought it was important for me to do an exhibition of imagery that goes beyond what we are used to,” she says. “As you know, a lot of our culture has so far been documented by people outside it. It’s important that we start documenting it for ourselves, representing our heritage in a way that only we know is best.”

Buthelezi mostly works in periurban spaces and the rural outskirts and says photography is not only a medium she feels most comfortable with but one she finds most relatable for her subjects and audience. A lot of her images are in black and white, a creative decision based on her own fascination with the resilience of Zulu culture through the centuries. “My work is very heritage based,” she explains. “I like the fact that with black and white images you can’t tell whether an image is old or new.”

She cites archival images from the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Campbell Collections. “Those images, mainly portraits, were taken in the late 1800s and the early 1900s. When I look at those images and I look at mine you almost feel like they could easily belong in the same era. So I like that juxtaposition because it also speaks to the fact that even now our culture is so strong. In terms of customs and the way of life, what we do today could easily fit in with the old.”

The point, however, is to not only document this but to further expand on the narrative. For example, an installation she created consists of maskandi music album covers — a demonstration of the evolution of the Zulu culture and how its people express themselves in the context of contemporary society.

“As we navigate through life in various environments, I think it's important that there are certain things that must be upheld. Our customs are treasures that we need to preserve at all times. Again, it goes back to the topic of your representation. Documenting with a sensitivity, an appreciation and high regard. It changes how the culture is perceived and how those people are perceived.”

Zulu culture is not just about regiments, she adds. Through the mundanity of daily life — and not just focusing on customs that exoticise who we are — we are able to appreciate that there is so much to us that is inextricably linked to our beliefs, values and principles, “which I think hasn’t been tapped into when it comes to visual documentation”.

As such, the photographers whose work she curated into this exhibition speaks to that. “Everyone has a different way of representing culture, unpacking the way they relate to the environment and the culture in the world in which they live.

“So you’ll find, for instance, Myllo Menorah is very good at going out to places as far as kwaMsinga and doing portraiture there, engaging with that aspect of Zulu culture — amaBhinca, ingoma, and their way of life. That’s his subject matter. Others like Thembi [Mthembu] and Thalente [Khomo] deal more with self-portraiture. They also represent a particular aspect in their own way.”

Buthelezi hopes to expand her work to include other Nguni cultures beyond amaZulu. As she puts it: “I wanted to start with an exhibition of Zulu culture because that is who I am and that is what I understand but I’m hoping that this will be a five-part series where we look at the different tribes within Nguni culture. So we will look at amaXhosa, amaNdebele and others.  I definitely want to expand and open it up because it’s not just us. We’re just one part of the Nguni heritage.”

She adds: “In my personal journey, I think the concept of culture and spirituality and identity is all part of the process of understanding myself and where I come from. That’s why the subject matter in its raw form is so important and dear to me. The more I dig deeper into the culture, it helps me to understand myself better, the context and environment I exist within. I begin to understand where I come from, and how I am going to move forward.”