ZANA MASOMBUKA, ZA

Zana ‘Ndebele Superhero’ Masombuka - born in 1995 - is a Johannesburg based conceptual and art director who draws inspiration from her upbringing in rural KwaNdebele, in a small town called Siyabuswa. She is an International Studies graduate from Stellenbosch University, where she learnt the art of critical thinking, as well as the importance of globalization and how it continues to impact Africa. Her art speaks to Africa’s active role in the next wave of this global phenomena and how African artists aim to pioneer the stories being written about their continent and its people, which is fundamental to the preservation of its heritage.

In “The Re-Invention of Africa: Edward Said, V.Y. Mudimbe and Beyond” Mazrui states that Africans need to interpret their history themselves and seek to re-invent Africa in their own terms. Therefore, “Ndebele Superhero” is a platform that has allowed her to speak of the stories of the of the past, present and the re-imagination of the future of her people. In addition to that, she believes that the better half of this century values the importance of representation and for people to tell their own stories. Hence, her work aims to highlight evolutionary process of culture, particularly the Ndebele culture, and how it emulates human behavioural patterns as well the various environments that influence its formulation. She argues that, due to the fact that the world remakes itself every 100 years, it is pivotal for Africans to be aware of this fact and discover ways on how they can steer the tide in their favour, which will result in the overall upliftment of its people.