President Jacob Zuma has extended words of congratulation to Ms Esther Mahlangu, the world renowned Ndebele artist, who has, together with the US R&B star John Roger Stephens, popularly known as John Legend, been invited by a luxury vodka brand to collaborate in an HIV/AIDS initiative, the Red Campaign.
A recipient of South Africa’s National Order of Ikhamanga for her excellent contribution to the development of the indigenous Ndebele arts, Mahlangu's work continues to be represented in private, corporate and public galleries around the world. Her village home in Mpumalanga is inundated with visitors from around the world, keen to explore her complex approach to wall decoration.
She was chosen to take part in this campaign to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa, driven under the hashtag #MakeTheDifference, where her role will be to bring the campaign to life by engraving her famous Ndebele prints to the design of the bottles of the brand.
Fifty per cent of the proceeds will go to the Global Fund to fight HIV/Aids in Africa.
“We are most heartened by this development. This is an important recognition for a local artist to participate in a global campaign. This campaign will put our country on the global creative map. At the same time, her efforts will also contribute to the global initiative to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa and worldwide. We congratulate her most heartily on this achievement. We are immensely proud of the highly talented Mama Mahlangu,” said the President Zuma.
Enquires:
Dr Bongani Ngqulunga
Cell: 082 308 9373
E-mail: bongani@presidency.gov.za
