Tap or click the poem to read it in Xhosa / English.
ISIVUMELWANO SEGOQO ELITSHA
Sithi camagu kubantu abadala! Siyacamagusha kubantu be mvelo! Siyabulela! Ilizwi Lomthonyama Malivakale!
Sithi Bayethe Ku ndlunkulu we-Mall, Yiyo nqo le sasiyilangazelela ngeentliziyo zethu! I-Goqo elitsha laseMthatha!
Sithi huntshu kubanikazi besakhiwo, iimboni zekamva lethu! Bona baqwalasela ngolutho kuse ziindonga kuphela!
Abantwana beVukile Properties, abazise iingcinga zabo ekhaya! Amaqabane eFlanagan & Gerard, azise ubuchopho babo! Benza isivumelwano sentsebenziswano, ngesiqinisekiso!
Le ndlu ayondlwan’ iyanetha! Yinto yethemba! Yintsimi eluhlaza, amathuba eminyaka! Lithuba kulutsha lwethu oluncamasha! Sihlalo sokudibana kwelizwe lonke!
Makube chosi kube hele! Siyayamkela le ndlu! Mayibe ngumlilo obasela amaziko ethu ngobushushu ububele! Mayithi gqi, ithi nqe, ingadinwa! Mayizale ngeempahla, iphuphume ngenkcubeko, nangentlonipho! Ibe yimbombo yabo bonke abathengi!
Siyavuma ngehlombe lezandla! Siyaxhentsha ngokusina kweenyawo! Sibulela ngokungazenzisiyo sibambha ngozizombini kwelithuba elitsha tsha!
Written by Thandeka Vabaza
Presented by Mthatha Community Arts Centre
THE COVENANT OF THE NEW FIREPLACE
We give thanks to our ancestors! We give thanks to our elders! Thank you. Let our words be heard! We praise the great house that has risen, the very one we envisioned in our hearts! The new Fireplace of Mthatha!
We praise the investors, the visionaries! Those who see the gem beyond the rough stone! The children of Vukile Properties, who brought their wisdom home! The partners of Flanagan & Gerard, who brought their intellect! They have made a covenant of partnership, with certainty!
This house is not just of mud and bricks! It is made of hope! It is a green field, harvesting opportunities for years to come! It is a doorway for our ambitious youth! It is a meeting place for the whole nation!
Hear! Hear! We accept this house! May it be a fire that warms our pots with kindness! May it stand strong and firm, never tiring! May it overflow with goods, with culture, with respect! Let it be the marketplace for all pursuits!
We applaud! We dance! We give thanks for the birth of this new chapter!
Written by Thandeka Vabaza
Presented by Mthatha Community Arts Centre
Introduction to a Partnership
At the heart of Mthatha, where heritage meets modern expression, a powerful collaboration is transforming how art and community come together. The Mall of Mthatha and the Mthatha Community Arts Centre (MCAC) have joined forces to turn the mall into a living gallery, a place where everyday moments meet artistic inspiration.
For over 30 years, the MCAC has been the creative pulse of the King Sabata Dalindyebo (K.S.D.) region, nurturing local talent and preserving the cultural identity of the Eastern Cape. Through this partnership, that legacy now extends beyond the walls of the arts centre, into the vibrant public spaces of the mall.
From striking murals like “Kiss of the Nguni” and “Idlelo”, to the interactive “Dreaming in Colour” selfie wall and the “Beauty in a Frame” exhibition, this collaboration celebrates the power of local artistry to transform space, spark pride, and inspire connection.
Together, we’re redefining what it means to shop, gather, and belong, creating a destination where art, culture and community thrive side by side.
The Mall of Mthatha – where shopping meets recreation, arts and culture.
Mural: Kiss of the Nguni
Location:
Mall of Mthatha – Above News Café and Spur
“Kiss of the Nguni” is a striking tribute to the soul of the O.R. Tambo District – a story of love, heritage, and identity painted by the artists of the MCAC.
More than a mural, it’s a visual conversation between past and present; celebrating the beauty of our land, our cattle, and our people. Through this tender moment – a kiss – the artwork captures the resilience and unity that bind generations together.
Mural: Idlelo
Location:
Mall of Mthatha – Above John Dory’s
“Idlelo” is a bold celebration of abundance, heritage, and renewal, an artistic gift from the MCAC to the heart of the O.R. Tambo District.
Featuring a young bull grazing in fields of plenty, the mural symbolizes resilience, fertility and continuity – a reflection of a community deeply rooted in tradition while embracing modern transformation.
Beyond its beauty, “Idlelo” embodies the spirit of the district, a people sustained by land, heritage and creativity.
Selfie Wall: Dreaming in Colour
Location:
Mall of Mthatha
“Dreaming in Colour” is more than a wall, it’s a vibrant mirror of identity and possibility. Created by the MCAC, this installation transforms an ordinary space into a canvas of joy, freedom, and self-belief.
At the heart of Mthatha, where cultures and stories meet, it invites people to stand between wings of colour and celebrate who they are becoming. Each photo captured is more than a selfie, it’s a statement of pride, creativity and ubuntu.
Art exhibition installation: Beauty in a Frame
Location:
Mall of Mthatha
“Beauty in a Frame” is a curated exhibition of 26 artworks, a tapestry of paintings, drawings, and photographs created by local artists from the MCAC. Gracefully displayed along the mall’s corridors, the collection transforms public space into a living gallery that reflects the spirit of the Eastern Cape.
Each piece captures the harmony between tradition and modern life, inspired by the region’s landscapes, livestock, and people. Together, they tell a story of identity, pride, and connection — a true portrait of the community’s creative soul.
Mthatha Community Arts Centre
THEIR VISION
To be the leading catalyst for sustainable creative careers in the Eastern Cape and a nationally recognised custodian of South Africa’s rich cultural heritage.
THEIR MISSION
To identify and nurture grassroots talent, transforming creativity into sustainable livelihoods that inspire positive change. We empower individuals – with a focus on youth, women, and people living with disabilities – to find their voice, build their confidence and take their place as equal contributors within the creative economy.
Together, we paint a future where creativity drives opportunity, culture fuels community and every story finds its stage.
For more information or to connect with the MCAC team, contact 065 732 6092 or email them here.
