Joseph Chirume
Many people would be forgiven for thinking that artist Lebani Sirenje, known as Rasta, usually donates his art for free to the people he paints.
However, the controversial social artist has his payday around the corner this time.
He will be hosting a major solo exhibition in Museum Africa for six months, starting on Friday, 27 May.
Renowned for painting portraits of prominent South Africans at their funerals, Rasta has made more than 300 portraits of celebrities, kings, musicians and politicians. He is asking the families of those he has painted to lend him the portraits for the show.
He addressed the request: “to all celebrities, public figures, politicians, business leaders, that Rasta the artist has made portraits of,” noting that some of the paintings were donated and others were paid for.
The Zimbabwean-born artist has in his portfolio portraits of people like the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, the late King Goodwill Zwelithini, and late television personality Shona Ferguson.
He has also painted the living, including EFF leader Julius Malema, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, among others.
Rasta said the exhibition will give value to the portraits, create publicity for the subjects and grow his profile.
