Skip to main content

God. Family. Art.


Meet Ofentse Mnguni – you do not know him yet… (PART 1 – INTRO)

Mzansi is embattled with economic unrest; social ills etc. and most of us predict a grim future ahead. Yet this is not the case for a teenager who clearly has his future drawn out on a canvas with a glimmer of hope - he sees a successful, happy and fulfilling life ahead of him.

From Kwa-Thema, in Ekurhuleni (east of Jozi), Ofentse Mnguni is a teenager and a learner at local Secondary School who is passionate about visual arts. Naturally, he comes from a pool of talented cousins – there’s an avid soccer player and an endearing rugby player in the midst, all bound together by their now late number one fan who was solidly anchored at the center of their lives – their grandfather. They all have one thing in common – God first! A brief chat with his mother also reveals that he is the apple of her eyes; she affectionately calls him ‘Fefe’ and supports his drawing passion accompanied with best wishes for him in all walks of life and future endeavors. Her parenting wisdom and guidance are also rooted in devotion to God, partly the reason why he is a levelheaded teenager with sound virtues.

Whilst his peers are out there indulging in other sorts of extracurricular activities that are not so kosher – especially for this age group, Fefe is not fazed. He has a firm grasp at his dream of becoming a world renowned artist and boldly acknowledges that he is not missing out on anything worth experiencing at his age – “speed kills and I see my life beyond the ‘now’ hype. I am yet to experience my fair share of it all because it will all come to pass eventually” he says. He, seemingly, has a deep loathing for recreational drugs because of the effect and influence they have on his peers and some members of his community. When asked if there’s a girlfriend in the offing, he lets out a contagious laugh in an attempt to conceal his discomfort from the unexpectedly posed question. Yet the answer is a resounding no – “my focus is on God, family and drawing, nothing else”. Or in this case, no one else…

He has been consciously strategic about the company he keeps – he is drawn to ambition and discipline and feeds off this sort of energy from his cousins and friends. His relationship with his grandfather who ultimately undertook the father figure role in his life also played a critical role in the make up of his character’s DNA – the two were best friends and had formed an unbreakable bond over the years. And, he loves being called ‘bhuti’ by his 4-year old sister, a very busy and inquisitive “Miss Little Person”. She remains one of the reasons why he wants to role model positive vibes and good choices because they influence her growth makeup and character daily.

Enticed you yet? Want to know more? Well, be on the lookout for the next installment (PART 2 – DRAWING) where we’ll feature some of Ofentse Mnguni’s drawings whilst getting to know him and discover what makes him tick…


By Ngobeni Communications CC
071 722 8685
info@ngobenicom.co.za / ngobenicom@gmail.com
www.ngobenicom.co.za
Labels:
Location: Kwa-Thema, Springs, South Africa

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I will rise again!

I will rise again! Laying on my bed, I can feel the pit my body dug onto it – no prize for guessing what it would say if it could talk. It has been my refuge and comfort zone for months now; it knows what I dare not share with the world. It has been there with me shielding me from the darkness of depression and cushioning the blows of life, it helped me pierce through stress and doubts whilst providing much needed comfort. To the world, I have it all under control. No one hears the painful screams concealed by my laughter. No one notices how broken I am beneath my poised bearing, the smile that stops my quivering lips’ attempt at a plea for help or the tales my face could tell about being drenched daily by the tears flooding my pillow… Letting go: I had it all once. I mean it was not the best that my dreams were made of but still I had it all. The snags came when I settled and had let it all become my comfort zone. I had procrastinated a lot of drea...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rise of russian sishebo ekasi

Times are tough and due to the economic crunch that the country is currently experiencing, we are all urged to not only fasten but also tighten our belts. There’s the looming retrenchments, fuel increase, VAT increase, recession, increased population, and what have you that contends with our sanity daily - but when it comes to the ever increasing food prices, there’s an appealing glimmer of hope – russians. Due to their increased demand over the past couple of months, making them the most affordable meat for the lower LSM market and families living below the bread line, they have become SA’s number one go to sishebo. These sausages are helping ordinary South Africans and presenting them with an affordable, yet delicious, alternative to feed decent meals to their families and ultimately curb poverty. And are rapidly selling out everywhere in the country’s rural, urban and peri-urban areas. It is reported that the russian sausage sales have been toppling those ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Depression: mental health matters!

“Sometimes it is really okay if the only thing you did was breathe” We live in taxing and depressing times where some people’s cry for help isn’t evident and multitudes drown in anxiety, stress and addiction. Yet “life” dictates that they should suck it up and soldier on, that they should strive to make best out of the dire situations in every aspect of their lives - lest they be seen as neurotic, broken, weak and needy to those around them or dependent on them. This in turn gives depression power over its host because of the restricted avenues where help can be sought. Instances like losing a loved one, divorce, being retrenched, relocating, “black tax” or trying to effectively manage the work-life balance take their toll on individuals but the society’s disintegration is such that none can talk about depression because they fear being judged, called names or labeled as attention seeking. In some cultures, more so in the black African communities, they may deem you possessed...
Post a Comment
Read more