The Javett Art Centre Honors Bongi Dhlomo (OIS)

The event took place on 31 August 2023 at Javett-UP, the celebration is set to be an intimate evening of stimulating conversations and music under the banner Journeying with Bongi Dhlomo: Celebrating the Order of Ikhamanga (IOS). 

“it’s an honour to be closing the month of August with a celebration of one of our greatest living icons and art-worker who has, for decades, mentored generations of artists, curators and cultural producers. The Order of Ikhamanga couldn’t be bestowed to a more deserving hardworking woman,” said Javett-UP’s Curatorial Director Gabi Ngcobo.

On 28 April 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa bestowed the IOS on Dhlomo for her contribution to the field of arts by curating creative projects that preserve significant periods in South African history. Such projects include the acclaimed Bongi Dhlomo Collection, in which Dhlomo have gathered black South African artists’ creations dating from the 1960s to 1990s, to provide an aesthetic glimpse into the personal and collective experiences of South Africans during the tumultuous twentieth century.

Dhlomo is one of the most accomplished artists, curators, and arts administrators of her generation. Her creative journey and praxis are one of resilience, creativity, and unwavering dedication to the arts. Colleagues and friends will gather to celebrate her indomitable spirit and a career which spans over five decades. She has been working as an artist and organizing in various aspects of the sector. 

Journeying with Bongi Dhlomo is not only a tribute, but a living conversation happening through intergenerational exchanges. It will include insights and contributions from University of Pretoria academic and artist Dr Avi Sooful, arts practitioner and curator Phumzile Nombuso Twala, and social justice and human rights activist Venitia Govender. Music will be provided by jazz vocalist Dudu Makhoba and DJ Sumting Brown who will bring an enriching sonic experience inspired by Dhlomo’s favorite records.

The Javett-UP is home to the Bongi Dhlomo Collection, which is a monument to the strength of artists and traditions once pushed to the margins. These works encapsulate the human experience against the backdrop of apartheid-era South Africa and were subject of the exhibition Yakhal’Inkomo (2022) guest curated by Tumelo Mosaka with Phumzile Nombuso Twala and Sipho Mdanda at Javett-UP.