Nhlakanipho Mkhize chose the theme of child soldiers because his father was a soldier, whom died due to the war between the ANC and IFP. He grew up wanting to be a soldier as well, but found his love behind the brush.

In Abadobi, Nhlaka recreates the image of a young girl holding a gun to the girl holding a fishing rod. “My aim was to change the narrative and allow the viewer to see the girl as a fisher rather than a soldier because she could be anything that she wants if she wasn’t forced to kill”.

The artist also mentions that the above image is his way of allowing the world to see Africa for what it really is. “We shouldn’t hide that child soldiers exist in Africa and that these kids are taught to defend themselves at an early age. However, it doesn’t have to remain that way.”

“As a creative I’m afraid of the colonisation of culture and it remains my duty to ensure that I preserve it through art and showing our true potentials while maintaining the black child’s identity”.