“These artworks will speak of the history of the township and how it once looked.”
After a long day of providing for his family, Kagiso Honoko rolls up his sleeves and winds down with a brush and canvas. In his room, soothing music plays softly, allowing him to tap into his passion. As the township fades into the evening, he becomes more than a provider — he becomes a painter.
Kagiso Honoko from Dobsonville Gardens discovered his talent while still in primary school when he drew a portrait of his uncle. That moment sparked something within him. Today, he aspires to be recognised for his distinctive style which is landscape paintings of his township and surrounding areas.
“In the next 20 to 50 years, the environment and everything will have changed,” he explains. “But art speaks. These artworks will speak of the history of the township and how it once looked.”
For Kagiso, art is a place of serenity. When he steps into his creative space, the worries of the day remain outside. He describes it as therapy: a space free from stress, where he can breathe and simply create.
However, his passion is not his primary source of income. Without strong industry connections or access to larger platforms, gaining recognition has proven difficult. While he does earn money through commissioned work and occasionally sells his paintings, the income is inconsistent. Like many creatives, he faces the delicate balance between the responsibility of providing for his family and pursuing his dream.
Yet his vision extends beyond himself. Kagiso dreams of facilitating an art programme for children who love art in the township.
“Everyone has a talent,” he says. “It’s just a matter of finding yourself.”
He hopes to help take children off the streets and guide them toward discovering their voices through art: not only painting and drawing, but all forms of creative expression. He has previously run an after-school programme, but without funding or sustained support, the passion eventually had to come to a pause.
Though the journey has not been easy, Kagiso refuses to let his circumstances silence his calling. He continues to paint, to sell when he can, and to imagine a space where township children can discover their gifts without limitation.
For him, art is more than colour on canvas, it is preservation, therapy, and possibility. And one day, in a classroom filled with young creatives, his paused passion will resume.
By Sinentlahla Mbokwe