Remembering the legacy of Peter Sibeko and how he championed township arts

Iconic visual artist Peter Sibeko’s daughter, Nonkululeko, is curating the Historical Art Exhibition set to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre in honour of her late father.

From 24 to 26 October, the works of artists whose lives were impacted by Sibeko will be on exhibition for the public, and among these are David Mbhele, Solomon Skhawulele, Sakhele Muyisi and Godfrey Ndaba. Sibeko passed away in 2013.

Who was Peter Sibeko and why should he be honoured?

Hailed for his artistic genius in turning mine dump sand from Johannesburg’s gold mines into a canvas texture for fine art, Sibeko used his gift to document the joys, struggles and musicality of township life.

The artist’s mission to dismantle the gatekeeping and censorship that Black artists in those days had to navigate propelled him to establish the Soweto Art Gallery in 1986, carving a safe haven for emerging township artists.

Sibeko can best be described as an all-round art activist, as he was also a co-founder of the legendary Federated Union of Black Artists (FUBA), where he fostered arts education, mentorship and practical workshops for Black artists who were denied access to formal fine art academies by the apartheid government.

Among the artists whose talent was nurtured at FUBA are Thomas Trevor Motswai, who won the Standard Bank Young Artist Award in 1992, Bongiwe Dhlomo-Mautloa, who curated the Johannesburg Biennale from 1995 to 1997, and award-winning actor Rapulana Seiphemo.

• What: Historical Art Exhibition 
• When: 24-26 October
• Where: Sandton Convention Centre
• Cost: R850 on Quicket

Nonkululeko Sibeko is her father’s daughter

Nonkululeko is not just honouring her father but is using the exhibition as a reminder to the public that the end of apartheid did not signal the death of creativity. Contemporary artists like herself continue to utilise art as a political tool for social justice today, charged by the political climate as a form of activism.

She says contemporary art has a key role to play in tackling the social impacts of GBV, corruption and disparities in the education system.

An art activist in her own right, Nonkululeko opened the Star Art Gallery in Maboneng in 2020 to accommodate women in visual arts.

Her own experience gave her the understanding that women constantly have to fight for their roles and opportunities within the arts and culture space.

“The Star Art Gallery gives women an opportunity to expose them to markets for sales and mentorship without asking for private dinner dates in exchange for opportunities. Women are safe and protected,” she says.

With 2026 marking the 50th anniversary of the Student Uprisings and the 70th anniversary of the iconic Women’s March, Nonkululeko says women like Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn hold immense significance in her exhibition, as the historic march was a cry for freedom.

“And today, our struggle as women is GBV and unemployment. The Historical Art Exhibition will expose the negative impact of these social ills, as women and children are without protection in this country. Every day a woman is killed,” she laments.

Essentially, Nonkululeko is not just doing this for her late father; this exhibition is also reminding the nation about South African artists who have fought through activism. She says they do not just deserve appreciation, but acknowledgment for their contributions as well.

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