Mahlangu's Titles
Learn more about how Esther Mahlangu's titles have changed over the course of her over 80 year career until 2025
By Art of Contemporary Africa
Content curated from the "Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting": Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective exhibition timeline and research
A portrait of Mahlangu taken during the launch of the BMW 7 Series Individual launch in 2017Art of Contemporary Africa
Esther Nostokana Nagiyana Nikwambi Mahlangu
From birth to marriage, Mahlangu's full name contains a rich history. Over the course of her career, Mahlangu's titles have also developed their own. These titles tell a story of how she built her reputation; both locally and abroad, and both formally and informally.
BMW i5 flow NostokanaArt of Contemporary Africa
NOSTOKANA
Fun fact: BMW's latest car project (2024) involving Mahlangu, a colour-changing car featuring designs inspired by Mahlangu's practice. It has been titled 'NOSTOKANA' as a tribute to the name she is popularly known by in her local community in Mpumalanga, South Africa. In Ndebele
Signature created as a tribute to Mahlangu's other known name.
Esther Mahlangu, "Kultuurambassadeur"
Early in her career during the 90s, she had travelled more internationally than most of her Ndebele peers and taken her culture with her. Due to this, in 1991 she was known as a "Kultuurambassadeur" (Cultural Ambassador) of Ndebele art in the mainstream Afrikaans media.
"The visit by Esther Mahlangu to Paris to participate in the exhibition on ethnic art is a huge honour for Middleburg. We are convinced that Esther will be a true ambassador not only for Middleburg, but for the whole of South Africa."
- Quote by the former mayor of the Middelburg Town Council, Piet Bezuidenhout at the airport sending off ceremony for her trip to Paris in 1989 (quoted from 'Esther se Wêreld' and translated from Afrikaans to English).
'Esther se wêreld'
When Mahlangu traveled to France for the first time, the former South African government sent a film crew to accompany her and document the entire experience of being part of Magiciens de la Terre.
If you are interested in knowing more about the build-up to 'Magiciens de la Terre' and her portrayal within the Afrikaans mainstream media, check out the 1989 documentary film 'Esther se Wêreld' available on YouTube.
Homestead signArt of Contemporary Africa
"1st woman who visited overseas"
After her return and within Mpumalanga, she gained local fame and the title "1st woman who visited overseas." She put up billboard signs near her homestead so international visitors could easily find her home and to honour the privilege of her overseas travels.
These signs still exist today, though they are now weathered. Nevertheless, they capture the sense of pride and celebration within this moment from a localised context. The signs were displayed in her retrospective exhibition 'Then I Knew I was Good at Painting': Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective (2024).
Esther MahlanguArt of Contemporary Africa
1994: the "First Lady" of Ndebele art
In 1994 when she has her solo exhibition at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C (USA), the programme dubs her with the title of "First Lady" of Ndebele Art, making reference to the title more formally held by the wife of the president of the United States.
The title suggests Esther's engagement with prominent American women within socio-political circles. Evidence indicates her participation in significant events in the United States during various tours from 1994- 1997. Further details are available in the story Mahlangu in Black American Culture and Diaspora.
Newspaper article about Mahlangu recieving The Order of Ikhamanga (Silver) awardArt of Contemporary Africa
2006: Ndebele "Princess"
Over a decade later, in 2006 when she received the Order of Ikhamanga (Silver) award, Mahlangu's links to Ndebele royalty in her husband's ancestral line are used for headlines. The Mahlangu line, had given her the nickname of Ndebele "Princess".
The Order of Ikhamanga recognises and honors South African citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism, or sports. The Silver Graded Award is the second highest achievement one can obtain within The Order of Ikhamanga, and it was awarded to Mahlangu for her excellent achievement in the Arts and Culture sectors. The award was presented to her by former South African President, Thabo Mbeki.
Newspaper article on I Colori Della Mia TribuArt of Contemporary Africa
2009: "La Regina d'Africa"
Surrounding and leading up to the FIFA commission in 2009; Mahlangu's popularity in Italy only grows. Since the i colori della mia tribu exhibition, she has a series of solo exhibitions that follow, terming her "La Regina d'Africa" meaning The Queen of Africa.
The earliest reference we have been able to find of this Mahlangu title stems from a solo exhibition which took place at the Artetivù Exhibition Center in Marcon, Italy. The venue has since permanently closed, but we see a tangible and lasting record of this title again in 2010 during her solo titled i colori della mia tribù, in which artist and collector Sarenco wrote the catalogue foreword, referring to her as "The Queen of Africa". Read more in Mahlangu & Italy.
Portrait of Esther MahlanguArt of Contemporary Africa
2018-2024: Dr Esther Mahlangu
Mahlangu currently holds four Honorary Doctorates: The first from the University of Johannesburg (2018), another in the same year for Visual and Performing Arts from Durban University of Technology, one from Tshwane University of Technology (2022) and UNISA (2024).
Her 2024 Doctorate, a Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics (Honoris Causa) from The University of South Africa, known as UNISA, is based on her practice, which "displays a bold command of mathematical indigenous knowledge systems and linear perspective" and serves as a "cultural blueprint for the renaissance in African art in the late twentieth century" (2024) according to Professor Simi Dube, Deputy Executive Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.
Read more about her mathematical influence in the story The Mathematical through Mahlangu.
“Being recognised at home is such a blessing. It shows that my people still see the great work that I do. It’s good to be honoured while I am still alive"
-Esther Mahlangu: Indigenous Lines (2019: 12) (originally quoted after receiving her honorary doctorate from UJ in 2017)
A massive thanks to Hannelie du Plessis and Mmutle Arthur Kgokong from the Pretoria Art Gallery Archives for their meticulous record keeping which lead to the newspaper clipping of 'Esther se Wêreld'.
Another thanks to the creators who made the documentary accessible to our research team by publishing it on YouTube.
Most of the images in this story were graciously offered by Esther Mahlangu's Family Archives during the course of research and made accessible to public in the exhibition timeline of "Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting": Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective (2024-2025).
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