The colorful Nguni culture on Takkies

Melody Mazibuko of Soshanguve Block H is a young dedicated entrepreneur who is a great example of a true hustler. She never allowed her situation to define her; however she rose above her difficulties and managed to survive against all odds. Mazibuko paints tekkies in all the Nguni colours and she has managed to make it a successful business.

This 28 year old said that she started her painting business out frustration after being academically excluded from the University of Pretoria. Mazibuko said that when she was academically excluded she was told to go and find herself, and she eventually did, hence she felt good when painting and writing. She said that the only way she could make money was painting, but it was not moving until she tried something new with her mom, Ntombikayise Skosana. “My mom has always been a painter, she used to paint on the walls until one day I pitched an idea that we do something together,” said Mazibuko. “People loved what we did, and we have been enjoying since then.”

Mazibuko who was born in Embalehle, Mpumalanga defined herself as a talkative person, fun, loving and very artistic, she said: “I love expressing myself, whether in an artistic way or writing.” Her friends have named her ‘MelodyYaTshwane’ which means the verse of hope and the tune of reason.

Mazibuko was sceptical about the business, thinking that people won’t like her paintings, especially on tekkies. “I had internal battles up until I decided to try and she what happens. I remember posting a picture of my painted tekkies on Facebook and waiting anxiously for likes, and to my surprise I got more than a thousand likes,” she explained.                                                                                                                   

“Orders started coming in and we could not sleep that night.”      

She has painted tekkies for clients in Cape Town and even in Germany. Mazibuko said that what sets her apart from her competitors is that she is doing this out of love. She said that her dream is to have an art institute around Pretoria, specifically in a township and have different artists showcasing their work in a corporate setting.