PILLAR Institute presents “Ndebele House Painting.” (Presenters will be teaching via Zoom from Africa and Washington D.C.)

Moderator:  Aaron Casey

This class explores vivid, bright Ndebele house art. In the 18th and 19th centuries, southern Africa’s Ndebele people lost a succession of wars to European settlers. Loss in battle brought on a hard, harsh life – and art served to express suffering. Symbols on homes and property perimeter walls began to be used for communication among Ndebele sub-groups. Painted geometric symbols stood for continuity and cultural resistance to circumstance. Then as now, Ndebele women are the traditional ‘carriers’ of this surpassingly beautiful art. The traditions and styles of this unique house painting is passed down from generation to generation by mothers, to this day. Women are responsible for the painting of the outside gates, front walls, side walls – and interiors – of Ndebele homes.