In an effort to brighten up the town, increase the foot count, and promote unity in diversity, a new and welcoming mural was created at the river mouth in Umkomaas.
This was made possible thanks to a dedicated team of members from the local business sector and Ward 99 leadership, who took the initiative to enhance the coastal town.
The project was commissioned to Doonside artist Christine Andrews, whose work clearly speaks for itself.
The team sent her a mock logo with some ideas and a song. With this, she was able to play around with elements and create this stunning work of art.
With the Aliwal Shoal being one of the major attractions in the area, drawing visitors from different parts of the world, this mural celebrates the area’s rich marine life with paintings of the ocean, lighthouse, sea creatures and promotes water activities such as diving.
In terms of promoting diversity and community spirit, the centre of the mural depicts a map of Ward 99 and hands from different race groups forming a heart.
The rich history of the town is also showcased. This is shown through paintings of a rural farm area, and an indentured labourer which relates back to sugarcane farming.
There is also a dedicated space on the mural for the Aliwal Shoal Hope Spot – an initiative which aims to assist in increasing public participation and education, with a view to promoting conservation and further developing citizen science.
Commenting on the artwork, Andrews said that the aim was to make the mural big, bold and bright.
“This is such a beautiful and diverse community, and the artwork is meant to show that with the rich history, tourist attractions and of course the locals, overall there is a sense of unity and togetherness,” she said.
“The mural took me about 13 days to complete, and I am so grateful to have been part of it. I also hope the mural is able to inspire more people to get on board with projects such as this one. Well done to the amazing team who made this project possible.”
Ward councillor Jane Naidoo mentioned that this is the first of many projects to come.
In the near future, work will be done to spruce up the braai facilities at the river mouth and clean up the area.
“The mural sends a message of unity to all, and we hope to make this space more inviting and safer for everyone to use,” said Naidoo.
“These initiatives are all part of developing our ward for tourism, the economy, locals and international visitors. We ultimately want to create a safe, positive, non-racial, integrated and attractive environment.”
Naidoo also mentioned that with upcoming projects, more hands on deck are always welcome.
“Change starts with you, so any direct contributions (cash, resources, skills, equipment, etc.) will go a long way in growing the town.”
The mural project was made possible thanks to Ward 99 leadership Jane Naidoo, eThekwini Municipality, AT Security, Sappi, Scottfin Insurance Brokers, Neurotel, Totilli Pink, AA Spice, SuperSpar Umkomaas and Moodley Sands.
To support or find out more about upcoming projects, contact Arlene Alexandre (ward committee) on 082 2533801.
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