On Monday, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) conferred Ndebele artist and international icon, Esther Nikwambi Mahlangu with an honorary doctoral degree.
UJ recognized Esther for her “legacy as a cultural entrepreneur, skillfully negotiating local and global worlds, and as an educator”.
Esther’s work came to international attention in 1989, when she was invited to exhibit her work at the Magiciens de la terre (Magicians of the World), in Paris.
Her vast work can be seen in collaborations with musician, John Legend, in a 2017 Belvedere Vodka advertising campaign to the celebrated BMW Art Car Series.
“Being recognized at home is such a blessing. It shows that my people still see the great work that I do,” she said.
