Malangatana Ngwenya
Encyclopedia
Malangatana Valente Ngwenya (6 June 1936—5 January 2011) was a Mozambican
painter
and poet
. He frequently exhibited work under his first name alone. He died on January 5, 2011 in Matosinhos
, Portugal
.
s and helping his mother on the farm. At 12 he went to the city of Lourenço Marques (now Maputo
) to find work, becoming ball boy
for a tennis club in 1953. This allowed him to resume his education, and he took classes at night, through which he developed an interest in art. Augusto Cabral, a member of the tennis club, gave him materials and helped him to sell his art.
In 1958 Ngwenya attended some functions of Nucleo de Arte, a local artists' organization, and received support from the painter Ze Julio. The next year he exhibited publicly for the first time, as part of a group show; two years later came his first solo exhibition, at the age of 25. In 1963 some of his poetry was published in the journal
Black Orpheus, and his work was included in the anthology
Modern Poetry from Africa.
In 1964, Ngwenya, who had joined the nationalistic FRELIMO guerrilla, was detained by the PIDE
, the Portuguese
secret police
of the Estado Novo regime, and spent 18 months in jail. He was given a grant from the Lisbon-based Gulbenkian Foundation in 1971, and studied engraving
and ceramics
in Portugal, Europe. Back to Mozambique, Africa, his art was exposed several times in both Lourenço Marques and Lisbon until the independence.
After the independence of Mozambique due to the events of the Carnation Revolution
of April 1974, Malangatana Ngwenya openly rejoined FRELIMO, now the single-party communist organization which was ruling the new country, and worked in political mobilization events and alphabetization campaigns. Since 1981 he has worked full-time as an artist. His work has been shown throughout Africa, and is in the collection of the National Museum of African Art
in Washington, DC. In addition, he has executed numerous mural
s, including for Frelimo and UNESCO
. He has also helped to start a number of cultural institutions in Mozambique, and was a founder of the Mozambican Peace Movement.
Ngwenya has been awarded the Nachingwea Medal for Contribution to Mozambican Culture, and has been made a Grande Oficial da Ordem do Infante D. Henrique. In 1997 he was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace and received a Prince Claus Award
.
He was awarded a degree honoris causa by the University of Évora
in 2010.
He died at 74, on January 5, 2011 in Matosinhos
.
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. He frequently exhibited work under his first name alone. He died on January 5, 2011 in Matosinhos
Matosinhos
Matosinhos Municipality is located in Porto District, Portugal. The main city is Matosinhos. It is bordered to the south by the city of Porto and lies within the Greater Porto subregion. The municipality has a population of 168,451 in 10 parishes. Many people have recently moved from the...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
Life
Born in Matalana, a village in the south of Portuguese Mozambique, Ngwenya spent his early life attending mission schoolSchool
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s and helping his mother on the farm. At 12 he went to the city of Lourenço Marques (now Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
) to find work, becoming ball boy
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
for a tennis club in 1953. This allowed him to resume his education, and he took classes at night, through which he developed an interest in art. Augusto Cabral, a member of the tennis club, gave him materials and helped him to sell his art.
In 1958 Ngwenya attended some functions of Nucleo de Arte, a local artists' organization, and received support from the painter Ze Julio. The next year he exhibited publicly for the first time, as part of a group show; two years later came his first solo exhibition, at the age of 25. In 1963 some of his poetry was published in the journal
Literary magazine
A literary magazine is a periodical devoted to literature in a broad sense. Literary magazines usually publish short stories, poetry and essays along with literary criticism, book reviews, biographical profiles of authors, interviews and letters...
Black Orpheus, and his work was included in the anthology
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
Modern Poetry from Africa.
In 1964, Ngwenya, who had joined the nationalistic FRELIMO guerrilla, was detained by the PIDE
PIDE
In 1969, Marcello Caetano changed the name PIDE to DGS . The death of Salazar and the subsequent ascension of Caetano brought some attempts at democratization, in order to avoid popular insurgency against censorship, the ongoing colonial war and the general restriction of civil rights...
, the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
secret police
Secret police
Secret police are a police agency which operates in secrecy and beyond the law to protect the political power of an individual dictator or an authoritarian political regime....
of the Estado Novo regime, and spent 18 months in jail. He was given a grant from the Lisbon-based Gulbenkian Foundation in 1971, and studied engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
and ceramics
Ceramic art
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
in Portugal, Europe. Back to Mozambique, Africa, his art was exposed several times in both Lourenço Marques and Lisbon until the independence.
After the independence of Mozambique due to the events of the Carnation Revolution
Carnation Revolution
The Carnation Revolution , also referred to as the 25 de Abril , was a military coup started on 25 April 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, coupled with an unanticipated and extensive campaign of civil resistance...
of April 1974, Malangatana Ngwenya openly rejoined FRELIMO, now the single-party communist organization which was ruling the new country, and worked in political mobilization events and alphabetization campaigns. Since 1981 he has worked full-time as an artist. His work has been shown throughout Africa, and is in the collection of the National Museum of African Art
National Museum of African Art
The National Museum of African Art is a museum that is part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.. Located on the National Mall, the museum specializes in African art and culture...
in Washington, DC. In addition, he has executed numerous mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s, including for Frelimo and UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. He has also helped to start a number of cultural institutions in Mozambique, and was a founder of the Mozambican Peace Movement.
Ngwenya has been awarded the Nachingwea Medal for Contribution to Mozambican Culture, and has been made a Grande Oficial da Ordem do Infante D. Henrique. In 1997 he was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace and received a Prince Claus Award
Prince Claus Awards
The Prince Claus Fund was inaugurated in 1996, named in honor of Prince Claus of The Netherlands. It receives an annual subsidy from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs....
.
He was awarded a degree honoris causa by the University of Évora
University of Évora
The University of Évora is a public university in Évora, Portugal.-History:The University of Évora, the second oldest in Portugal, was founded in the 16th century by Cardinal Infante Dom Henrique , and by the Pope Paul IV, and it was delivered to the Society of Jesus.The Jesuit college...
in 2010.
He died at 74, on January 5, 2011 in Matosinhos
Matosinhos
Matosinhos Municipality is located in Porto District, Portugal. The main city is Matosinhos. It is bordered to the south by the city of Porto and lies within the Greater Porto subregion. The municipality has a population of 168,451 in 10 parishes. Many people have recently moved from the...
.
Further reading
- Navarro, J., & McGuire, H. C. (2003). Malangatana. Mkuki na Nyota Publishers. ISBN 9987686451, available through Michigan State University Press.