Original lino block of Herdman Philipus Koluvi by John Muafangejo
John Muafangejo (1943-1987) Namibian .
Dated 1982 and inscribed with the artist's name and the title in the lino block, laid down on wood panel block
Lino block: 635mm x 520mm
Board: 720mm x 560mm by 25mm.
Artwork by John Ndevasia Muafangejo is highly collectable. Muafangejo is universally recognized as a master of African printmaking, whose distinctive linocuts bridge the gap between traditional African life, Christian themes, and the socio-political struggles of apartheid-era Southern Africa.
His tragic death at age 44 in 1987 cut short a meteoric career, resulting in a strictly limited lifetime output of only about 260 unique prints, making his original works rare and increasingly valuable.
Muafangejo developed a globally recognized, graphic style featuring bold, black-and-white linocuts and woodcuts. He is famous for weaving handwritten text directly into his compositions. These blocks of text function like an unedited diary or journalistic commentary, giving his prints a personal, raw, and intensely human "voice".
Muafangejo was one of the most prominent alumni of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Art and Craft Centre at Rorke's Drift in South Africa. This center was a legendary incubator for Black South African and Namibian artists working under the shadow of apartheid. Works associated with the Rorke’s Drift movement hold immense historical and institutional value in African art history.
Instead of being restricted to single subjects, his prints capture a broad spectrum of the human experience, combining:
Cultural History: Documenting Ovambo traditions, rural tribal duties, and wildlife.
Religious Imagery: Reinterpreting biblical stories with a distinct African identity and messages of equality.
Political Resistance: Commenting on the violent realities of white oppression and the struggle for Namibian independence without being a typical "protest artist".
Humour and Candor: Infusing deeply personal, sometimes funny stories—such as his famous Elephant is Killing a Lion in Funny Way.
Unlike many of his peers, Muafangejo achieved international recognition during his lifetime. As early as the late 1960s and 1970s, he was exhibiting at major international venues like the Camden Arts Centre in London, the SĂŁo Paulo Bienal, and the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Influential critics like Edward Lucie-Smith historically declared him a "printmaker of world class," establishing a bedrock of institutional value that protects his legacy today
R30,000
