Shifting perceptions and using culture as a currency

'No one is coming to save women'

- By Coceka Magubeni

Nonkanyiso Mbonambi says art is a tool to preserve African history.

(Dillon Phiri)

Nonkanyiso Mbonambi has built a career that intentionally cuts the distance between art, activism and economic sustainability, anchored in the belief that creativity is not a mere luxury but a vital tool for survival, liberation, and financial security.

Movement, resistance, and a steadfast belief in the power of African knowledge systems define Mbonambi's calling as a visual artist, muralist and curator.

Her childhood unfolded across northern KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and later Johannesburg, shaped by constant relocation after her father went into exile. Her experience moving between provinces, languages, and communities taught her adaptability at an early age.

"I became something of a shapeshifter, always finding ways to blend in and connect with different cultures."