I met Lumkile in 2022 when I worked in the Community Building off Umgeni Road. Soft spoken, often to be found deep amongst his multiple art pieces spread across a portion of the 3rd Floor, then home to tech and clean-energy startup, Gugu. At the time, the space was also home to bespoke Durban clothing designer Eden Gold Collection and artistic clothing duo Flair Supply.

Of course, people migrate, collaborations pivot and people find themselves in new spaces and forms of work. I have however, kept an eye on Lumkile’s work through time, and you can imagine my excitement when I saw that he’d exhibiting his debut art collection titled Umsebenzi. The exhibition launch takes place at Hue Cafe (see address on the poster below) on Thursday the 9th of January 2025 kicking off at 5pm.

"Umsebenzi" is both a ritual and a rite of passage—a visual manifestation of the inner work I have undertaken to heal, transform, and break free from structures that no longer serve me.

- Lumkile Mzayiya

Join me, as we get to know more about this incredible artist…

LEX: Who is Lumkile Mzayiya?  

LUMKILE: Lumkile is a simple person with a big heart for humanity. I'm all about good vibes and energy. I'm a multidisciplinary artist based in Durban, specializing in painting and performance art. Through my art, I explore themes of healing, black empowerment, and fostering balance between masculinity and vulnerability.

LEX: Where are you from and where did you grow up?      

LUMKILE: I was born and raised in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape. I'm from a rural village called Thembelihle, which translates to "good hope." I've had that hope since I was young—to go outside the walls of the village and explore a different and limitless life.

LEX: How would you describe your journey as artist till now?

LUMKILE: My journey is packed with ups and downs, mostly failure. But the journey itself has offered me lifelong lessons and equipped me with peace that surpasses all understanding. My relationship with God has become stronger every day. So, my journey has been kind to me—offering personal and artistic growth.

LEX: What are some of your career highlights to date?

LUMKILE: I was reminded the other day when I saw Lionel Davis on the news—an 88-year-old artist still passionate about art. When I first arrived in Durban, he and other prominent artists handed me the Ernest Mancoba Award. Fast forward to last year, when I won a KZNSA Merit Award—it felt like validation that I'm on the right path. This upcoming exhibition is the biggest highlight of my artistic journey, and I’ve been longing for this opportunity for a very long time.

LEX: What have been some of your most challenging aspects of your career? And how did you overcome them?

LUMKILE: My biggest challenge has to be myself. I struggle with depression, and for a long time, I was creating from an empty place. It felt like I was chasing my own shadow. Losing my mother in 2017, my biggest support, was devastating. Most black artists suffer because they don’t have emotional support structures. As I said earlier, my experiences offered me lessons, so I had to break free from structures that no longer serve me. Mentally, I'm in a better place now, and it’s starting to show in my work.

LEX: Tell us about umsebenzi?

LUMKILE: Umsebenzi is very personal to me. Here, I explore Umsebenzi as a ritual of becoming—a rite of passage. It touches on themes of healing—a deliberate effort to confront the wounds of the past, transform them into lessons, and foster self-care and self-love. I also view Umsebenzi as an understanding that hard work and determination are the bridges between dreams and reality. Not only for ourselves but also as a fulfilment of the aspirations and sacrifices of those who came before us. It’s a powerful reminder of the responsibility we carry to honour the past and build the future.

LEX: Do you have a favourite piece in this exhibition?

LUMKILE: My favourite piece would be the performance piece because I’ve worked with passionate creatives. I'm excited to experience this piece together with the audience. I also love a painting titled Heavenly Hug, a painting of me and my late mother. I always wanted to create a painting of us since we don’t have a single photo together. It’s a reminder to myself that I was born of a warrior who chose love over chaos, sacrificing her dreams for family. So, here I’m romanticizing about giving her a flower, honouring her love and support, and saying that I’m well equipped with her teachings.

LEX: What inspired this collection of work? 

LUMKILE: Neo-classicism has been my biggest influence. I like how they display power while not showing emotions. I employed the same approach, portraying the figures with power and the freedom to move out of the canvas if they want to. I’m inspired by the concept of openness and freedom. This body of work is a fresh breath of air. I always wanted to influence and change, but I guess I needed change first in order to speak from the heart and from a positive place. I enjoyed playing with the idea of marriage as a representation of religious and cultural contracts that often suffocate or weigh down people with good intentions. At the heart of this collection is the resistance against GBV and abuse.

LEX: Where can people find out more about your work?

LUMKILE: I'm available on Instagram and LinkedIn as lumkilemzayiya.

Written by Lex LaFoy