Weaving poetry, art and spirituality Kwazi Ndlangisa’s debut exhibition, Imilayezo ka Sithunywa

Kwazi Ndlangisa is an award-winning South African poet and visual artist from KwaZulu-Natal, celebrated for weaving isiZulu poetry, lullabies, and visual art into powerful stories of identity, spirituality, and Africanism. His debut exhibition IMilayezo KaSithunya debuts in Durban, 27 February 2026, marking his bold entry into visual art.

In this conversation, Ndlangisa shares insights into his creative process as both poet and visual artist, and unpacks the spiritual themes behind his exhibition.

SISIPHO: What inspired you to merge poetry and art in "Imilayezo KaSithunywa", and how do you hope this exhibition challenges traditional notions of artistic expression?

KWAZI: I have always wanted to exhibit my poetry, and merging it with visual art felt like the most natural way to bring the spoken word to life. It allowed me to give form and colour to what is usually only heard or read. I trust that artists and art lovers will appreciate this approach, as it is something I have not commonly seen before. Above all, I hope it inspires upcoming artists to experiment boldly and express themselves beyond traditional boundaries.

S: Your poetry often explores themes of spirituality and identity. How do these themes translate into your visual art, and what messages do you hope viewers take away from the exhibition? 

K: Both my poetry and visual art speak the same language - spirituality and identity. These themes translate into my work through symbolism, memory, and ancestral presence, allowing the unseen to become visible. I hope viewers will engage in self-reflection and rediscover themselves through the work, reconnecting with who they are at their core and with the legacy of their forebears.

S: As a poet, you're accustomed to conveying complex emotions through language. How did you approach the challenge of expressing yourself through visual art, and what surprised you about this process? 

K: I found the process even more interesting because I was transforming words into life. Rather than overthinking the final outcome, I return to the emotional space I was in when I wrote the poem, and from there the visuals naturally emerge. What surprised me most was how instinctive the process became; the images seemed to reveal themselves once I reconnected with the original feeling behind the words.

S: The title "Imilayezo KaSithunywa" suggests a sense of messenger or prophet. Can you speak to the role of the artist as a messenger, and how this exhibition reflects your understanding of this role?

K: I believe that artists, in general, are vessels through which messages are transferred. Once the message has been delivered, the artist is free to return to themselves. In Imilayezo kaSithunywa, I see myself as a conduit; the messengers come through me to pass on messages from the unseen, from a higher realm, to the living. This exhibition reflects my understanding of the artist not as the source, but as the channel through which meaning and revelation flow.

S: Your work often incorporates elements of African culture and spirituality. How do you see "Imilayezo KaSithunywa" contributing to the broader conversation around African art and identity?

K: By presenting this themed body of work, I believe viewers will begin to question their own identity. The exhibition invites both conscious and unconscious self-exploration. I trust that the messages carried within the work may take time for some to fully decode, but that process of reflection is part of the journey. In this way, Imilayezo kaSithunywa contributes to the broader conversation around African art and identity by encouraging deeper engagement with spirituality, heritage, and self-knowledge.

S: What do you think is the significance symbolism of this exhibition being curated by another poet as we know that spaces like these are very competitive in terms of recognition

K: Having this exhibition curated by another poet is symbolic of the many possibilities of breaking boundaries within the arts world. It is living proof that art is not a battlefield, but a shared spiritual and intellectual space where two or more artists can coexist, honour their individual spaces, and create collectively. In doing so, the creative landscape does not shrink but flourishes.

S: What's next for you, creatively? Will you continue to explore visual art, or return to poetry, or perhaps merge the two in future projects?

K: Imilayezo kaSithunywa will tour nationally, and we will continue releasing dates for upcoming events through IMilolozelo NPC social media pages. Creatively, I remain open to exploring both visual art and poetry, and I am committed to continuing the dialogue between the two disciplines as the project evolves.