Artist dreams of an explosion of tourists for xitheves
I harbour dreams of an explosion of American and European tourists to Africa to buy xitheves and xitheve artworks and thereby uplift our rural grannies who toil day in and day out to produce the xitheves, says artist Fumani Maluleke.
Artist Fumani Walter Maluleke does not just spend sleepless nights fantasising about his dream trip to New York but also dreams about a bigger picture of the upliftment of ogogo from the rural areas who produce the grass mats for his signature paintings.
Maluleke also dreams about growing not just the South African economy with the xitheves, as the traditional African mats are known in his native Xitsonga, but the economies of the entire African countries as these mats are not unique to South Africa only.
“My vision for Alex when the xitheves finally take flight is to open up a gallery and shop in the township to sell and permanently exhibit the xitheves for the many tourists from abroad that come to the iconic township which is famous for its rich historical tapestry, both in the political and struggle areas, and the arts, sports, culture, music and recreation.
“Those are dreams that are close to my heart and I see the up-coming opportunity to exhibit my xitheve artwork at the New York Art Expo as the opportune time to break into the international limelight for myself and the xitheve, along with ogogo from the forgotten rural areas of our country who toil day in and day out to produce the xitheves,” Maluleke said.
He outlined all his dreams in an interview with Alex News during a fundraising event for his trip to New York in the USA at the Siga Restaurant in Alexandra, which was organised by Alex creative arts mastermind, Refilwe Pieterse, of Symbols of Resilience and attended by the Ambassador of Somalia in South Africa, His Excellency Mohamed Ali Mire, who pledged sponsorship for a return-trip ticket to New York for Maluleke.
“As a young boy from Limpopo, I would like to make history as the first person to introduce xitheves to Americans and Europeans, and I would like to see them coming to Africa in their droves to buy the xitheve artwork, which will be a dream come true for me,” Maluleke added.
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