Wits Art Museum has launched a photographic exhibition series looking at the South African Zionist Church community.
The body of work by Mpumalanga born photographer, Sabelo Mlangeni looks at the Zion Church community outside the church building. Mlangeni has titled the work – Umlindelo Wamakholwa (believers in waiting.).
He says his aim is to show another dimension of the church and its members.
“The photos have a lot of suggestions; I focused on images that show the space outside the church. My aim was to help the outsider see how the church community lives outside the church building.”
He says he deliberately ignored what the members do inside the church building. “I want to breakdown stereotypes about the Zionist church, to show people that these are ordinary people like you and me.”
One of the photos that affirm the modernity of church members is a photo of a group of young women having a conversation with one wearing a pair of Jordan’s, a fashion statement of note in contemporary popular culture.
Associate professor at Wits Institute for Social and Economics Research (WISER), Hlonipha Mokoena says uMlindelo wamaKholwa “Gives us a keyhole view into the religious world of Zionists. His (Mlangeni) work doesn’t try to convert you. He is simply placing believers in your sight of vision.”
Mokoena says Mlangeni’s work makes one ponder on questions like “do you know what it feels like to wait upon the Lord?”
Mlangeni who is a member of the South African Zionist church, started documenting his church member community after he matriculated in 2001.
He says it is humbling to see the support he received at the opening night of the exhibition. “It is humbling to see so many people supporting this work, especially in the presence of my parents who are both here today. For a while church members have been asking to see the photos I have taken over the years, they will be happy to see them now.”
The exhibition which looks at two South African Zionist church communities, one in Johannesburg and the other from Mlangeni’s hometown of Driefontein in Mpumalanga runs from 27 June to 28 October 2018 at the Wits Art Museum in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
Below are some of the photos displayed at the exhibition:
