Listen to Episode 6 of The ICA Podcast!
Featuring an in-depth interview with Sikhumbuzo Makandula, and including contributions from artist and art historian Nomusa Makhubu and music by renowned opera singer Mthwakazi, who has pioneered a style of music that she terms Xho-opera.
Sikhumbuzo Makandula is a multidisciplinary artist with a Fine Art degree from Rhodes University and a Masters degree in Interdisciplinary, Live and Public Art from the University of Cape Town. His recent performances include Zizimase, performed at the Infecting the City public art festival in 2019, and Ingoma ka Tiyo Soga performed at the ICA Live Art Festival in 2018 and at the 2019 National Arts Festival.
In this episode, we dive into two of Makandula’s performative works, Ingqumbo (2016) and Ingoma ka Tiyo Soga (2018-2019) to interrogate the areas of academic and artistic enquiry that have shaped – and which continue to propel – his deeply layered artistic practice: the violence of the missionary agenda in South Africa and its lasting effects, how to negotiate the intersecting influences of Christianity and African spirituality, and the necessity of excavating silenced historical narratives.
“The work really starts with music, before I even get to the image,” Makandula explains – and this powerful soundscape that inspires his work and fills his performances also threads its ways through our conversation as we journey between Makandula’s art studio, the South African National Gallery, and the city of Makhanda.
Sikhumbuzo Makandula. Photo by Shalom Mushwana.
About the ICA Podcast
The ICA Podcast extends the work begun by the ICA’s 2019 publication Acts of Transgression: Contemporary Live Art in South Africa – through conversations with the creators and curators of Live Art. Read more about the vision for The ICA Podcast, and the artists featured in Season 1.
Listen and subscribe on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podcast Addict, or wherever you find podcasts. You can also listen on our website.
Looking ahead
In Episode 6 we’ll be speaking to visual artist Meghna Singh – join us then!
Sikhumbuzo Makandula, Zizimase, 2019. Photo by Xolani Tulumani.
Sikhumbuzo Makandula, Ingqumbo, 2016. Photo by Gcobani Sakhile Ndabeni.
Sikhumbuzo Makandula, Mzilikazi, 2018.