The Ndebele people started painting their homes in the mid 19th century, but it wasn't until 1923 when a white farmer asked his agricultural workers to paint his house in bright colors (against a white background) that the below style was born. These amazing paintings are thought to protect houses against the evil eye.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iIGwYfWOTGRLKc5lrtoT7PoFIbtRVgLXqFjFVIYviOv-BHVvlKlf_YPixujg384FvLf8DqvK2FK20e7wNlOiXw6VpzwE2hcZiQ05fpVQeWwtegde0dG2_0sfRtlfBBhv-FuP8acoUik/s400/1.jpg)
Esther Mahlangu, the most famous living Ndebele artist.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAh-a9U94ZyG4C-nqok8utYC-kV549IfKzeSRRarEAmUhsO4UnpLoMlf4mYWYclHSuEjZKLLJYZWSO25mfc7cAsuXst_EQqH-1xp3v40RZLDmdTD235drZtTxGl2RtWv7CUY9ZNiPZhaQ/s400/2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9vYTEtTZH8puh7VFdEbhRSeu_-ICgmmvQowwjgBPVeMYKLOW8bzW77-tJ7p7C9_T34PAsqHkybJSXM3CSb9YXt3O0ix95Aqn9CdgABmVHXYI7wrwRHn9j9X-mzjblFvgktaNDhPiKeQ/s400/3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0IUG9qrVXKNprw8F1kaxf_xRL9akV8gXU1NoVoybQ8xbMT3wf9hRU8XhOpmtgYDEa0BcBta7XxIX_7geAq4ctMqE-NqZcZPhKtGXEx07nDDDZRkcNj6mAG4VeWnnrXTBI-aWuAeNvR0/s400/4.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rVqsEKZmu3pSfloBfexgV916O-JXQv-9A35FGmvzMFqHvVv323FEwF9XaLz-N6S9G0yFHwR5WP3xruoU29LbITga9VLRNK8R5ZOnLgN3tuDC01m3uGBozPHjCQr7SnV7TUj0GO3mSrE/s400/5.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIssP_bnhKknH8aaLoXmQ3gMYJ92ugtXxjAKmxh9K8Vo0RSEZAI3PYEIGsmRoutp-pePnevdg2xLM_pI0csLvuVVD3jb_f-cQnA_KRjSqkTTjacaYyowlQspgbeuqTuOTpxDM9o9KvcXM/s400/6.jpg)
all images Inside Africa South and West Taschen
wow. the third photo really makes me want to have one room in my imaginary house that i own painted just like that.
ReplyDeleteso funny, i just did a post about a short film/book by andrew zuckerman and i'm pretty sure esther mahlangu is featured in the film. you can catch a glimpse of her in the trailer.
woow amazing!!
ReplyDeletethe african interiors book is so inspiring. whenever i need a spark, i sit with it for awhile. a lot with a little. natural and handmade. and of course, paint!
ReplyDeletewow, thank you for posting this.
ReplyDeletei've already spent an hour - looking at more images online.
i just feel like screen printing these photos on fabric..
so so good
oxLO