THIS April, the Woza Moya Artists’ Wall features a striking sculpture of an angel by renowned local carver Sibusiso Maphumulo.

Known as the ‘carver of angels’, Maphumulo brings humour and spirit into his work – many of his angels wear sunglasses, blending tradition with playful, modern touches.

Maphumulo is a self-taught artist from Thandanani, Verulam, who discovered his family’s carving heritage only after he had already begun his own journey. Guided by visions and dreams, he often sketches ideas in the middle of the night, letting the wood itself inspire what he creates.

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His deeply spiritual approach has taken him abroad with the Bat Centre, and his work is celebrated in galleries and private collections worldwide.

Maphumulo’s achievements include having his hand–carved angels exhibited in the Durban and Johannesburg municipal art galleries, and being collected by major corporate collections such as Sasol, Standard Bank, and MTN. His work has also attracted international attention, with collectors travelling to KZN to acquire his sculptures.

The angel sculpture will be displayed throughout April at the Woza Moya Hillcrest shop. As always, the artwork is available for bidding, with proceeds directly supporting the artist.

Uplifting artists

The Woza Moya Artists’ Wall and Artists’ Cards initiative is designed to create opportunities for artists while showcasing their work. Each month, a different artist is commissioned to paint or sculpt a feature piece on a 1.1m x 1.1m wall panel, which is displayed outside the Woza Moya Hillcrest AIDS Centre shop.

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Woza Moya is the economic empowerment project of the Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust and assists artists by marketing their work throughout the month. The painted wall panel is reproduced as a greeting card and sold in-store, creating a stream of ongoing passive income for the artist.

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