STREET ART #179 – Portraits of South African jazz legens in Johannesburg

In Johannesburg, South Africa, I found some of the of most amazing street art in this city. Underneath the pillars of the M1 freeway, close to Mary Fitzgerald Sq. the street artist DBongz Mahlati has painted beautiful black & white portraits of jazz legends from South Africa. If you are in Johannesburg and looking for street art, don't miss this place. There are several large portraits. Dbongz wanted to pay tribute to these jazz musicians. The top four portraits are Jonas Gwanga, Busi Mhlongo, Kippie Mokoetsi and Sibongile Khumalo. When I found about the names of four of the musicians, I had to find more information about them. (Check links). I haven't managed to find out who are represented in the portrait near the ground.

When he was going to paint the portraits, he chose four musicians that means something to him: All of them carry a message. He also chose them because of what each of them has achieved.

When Dbongz chose to paint Jonas Mosa Gwangwa (1937-2021 ) he chose him because he wanting to try to convey the message from Jonas. He sang about not destroying your country and against killing. Jonas was also a songwriter and producer. He began to become known in the United States in the 1960s and in 1965 he participated in the concert «Sound of Africa» at the Carnegie Hall. Other known South Africans also participated.

Busi Mhlongo (1947 -2010) was chosen because of the way she was a champion of her cultural heritage. She was always dressed in a way that clearly showed her background. She was born Victoria Busisiwe Mhlongo and was not only a singer, but also a composer and dancer.

The portrait of the saxophonist shows Jeremiah «Kippie» Morolong Moekets (1925-1983). Sometimes he has been referred to as «the father of South African jazz». He has played with many of the great musicians. Dbongz chose to portrait him in order to raise awareness about mental health. Kippie was struggling with depresion. In the district of Newtown there is a jazz club called Kippies. There is also a bronze stature somewhere else in Johannesburg, but I didn't see it. I did see that the portrait beneath Kippie is also painted by Dbongz, but I haven't managed to find out who he is and if he is a musician too.

Sibongile Khumalo (1957-2021) has also been portrait beautifully. She was the was the first black woman who became an opera singer in South Africa. She was a person who saw no boundaries between different genres. Not only was she a singer of classical jazz and opera, but also traditional South African music. She was also a song writer.When Nelson Mandela turned 75 she sang at his birthday. She did it again one year later when he was inagurated as President of South Africa.

There is another portrait in black & white beneath Sibongile Khumalo, but I don't know who she is.

The pillars have not only the the portraits done by Dbongz. On the other side of the street, but still under the freeway, there are more murals. These are in color. Also, notice the "heads" along the street. They are carved in wood that once functioned as railway sleepers. There are lots of the heads (hundreds?) along the street and the Mary Fitzgerald Square.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kippie_Moeketsi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busi_Mhlongo
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibongile_Khumalo#Early_life
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Gwangwa

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STREET ART #178 – Urban art in the district of Braamfontein, Johannesburg

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All the photoes are mine, Ulla Jensen (flickr, Instagram and facebook)

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