John Muafangejo

**John Ndevasia Muafangejo** (5 October 1943 – 27 November 1987) na he be a Namibian artist wey cam turn internationally known as a maker of woodcut prints. He create linocuts, woodcuts den etchings.
## Biography
Na dem born Muafangejo insyd Etunda lo Nghadi, Angola insyd 1943. He cam from de people of Kwanyama (Kuanjama), wey inhabit de northern parts of Ovamboland. As a kiddie, he tend cattle barefoot. Insyd 1955 ein poppie die, wey lef ein mommie, wey na she be one of eight wives, plus no assets. Ein mommie convert go Christianity wey she move insyd 1956 to de Anglican mission station insyd Epinga wich lay south of de border insyd Namibia. Insyd 1957 John follow am der wey he attend de local missionary school.

For twenty Muafangejo move go de Holy Cross School of Mission insyd Onamunhama, then to de St Mary's School insyd Odibo. He stay der til 1967. An American missionary name C. S. Mallory support ein artistic talent den help am plus de application to de Arts and Craft Centre of de Evangelical Lutheran Church insyd Rorke's Drift, Natal insyd South Africa. Na de Swedish couple Ulla den Peder Gowenius found de Rorke's Drift Art and Craft Centre insyd 1962 wey na e play a significant role insyd de development of South African art insyd de second half of de 20th century. Hie Muafangejo cam into contact plus different artistic techniques, such as de weaving, woodcarving, painting den pottery. Na one of ein teachers be Azaria Mbatha (b. 1941). He distinguish einself particularly insyd etching den linocut. Insyd 1968 he suffer a nervous breakdown wey na he dey for treatment insyd de Madadeni Hospital insyd Newcastle secof a severe depression. After ein release he acquire a degree from Rorke's Drift insyd 1969. From 1970 to de end of 1974 he work as an art teacher for de mission school insyd Odibo. Insyd 1974 na dem award am de Artist-in-residence scholarship insyd Rorke's Drift. Insyd 1975 he return to Odibo, den insyd 1977 he move go Windhoek. During 1986–1987 he build a house insyd de suburb of Katutura. He die suddenly of a heart attack insyd Katutura Township, Windhoek for 27 November 1987.

## Works
Na dem consider Muafangejo one of de most important visual artists of ein generation. Ein linocuts be powerful depictions of people den events, he express insyd black den white imagery, wey dey condense de colourful landscapes den animal images of Namibia ein artists of European origin.

He often dey combine text plus images, wey ein images contain references to de history den culture of de ovaKwanyama. He no live make he see de independence of Namibia, buh de violent struggle for am form de background for ein art.

Muafangejo ein output dey contain ca. 260 different prints per. De Namibian Arts Association insyd Windhoek get a large collection of ein works insyd dema Permanent Collection.

## Exhibitions (selection)
*1969 Contemporary African Art Exhibition, Camden Arts Centre, London
*1972 São Paulo Biennial
*1975 Arts Centre, Durban (solo exhibition)
*1976 Black South Africa: Graphic Art, Brooklyn Museum, New York
*1980 John Muafangejo Graphic Art (solo exhibition), Bullankulma Art Gallery, Helsinki
*1987 Black Art – John Muafangejo and Peter Clarke, IFA Gallery, Bonn
*1988 National Arts Festival, Grahamstown (retrospective)

## Literature

* Bruce Arnott: *John Muafangejo: linocuts, woodcuts and etchings. Linocuts, woodcuts and etchings.* Struik, Cape Town/Johannesburg. 1977.
* Theo Sundermeier: *Hope for Namibia: linocuts by John Ndevasia Muafangejo.* Luther-Verlag, Bielefeld 1991.
* Orde Levinson: *I was lonelyness. The complete graphic works of John Muafangejo: a catalog raisonné 1968–1987.* Struik Winchester, Cape Town 1992.
* Orde Levinson: *The African Dream. Visions of love and sorrow: the Art of John Muafangejo.* Thames and Hudson, London 1992.
* Brenda Danilowitz: John Muafangejo picturing history. In: *African arts. vol. 26, no. 2* (1993) pp 46–57, 92–94.
* John N. Muafangejo (1943–1987): linocuts from the collection of the National Art Gallery of Namibia: Forum for Cultural Exchange, Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations, Stuttgart, 26 January to 27 March 1994. catalog, text: Annaleen one. Stuttgart, 1994.
* Orde, Forcible Love, A play about John Muafangejo presented at the National Theatre of Namibia for Independence Celebrations March, 1990.
* Orde Levinson: Visions of Love and Sorrow, the Art of John Muafangejo, trilingual publication in English, with Oshikawanyama and German Translations of updated edition of 1992 Thames and Hudson publication. Includes the script of "Forcible Love" and "A Poets Grave". Kuiseb Publishers, [Windhoek], 2020

## References


## External links

* John Muafangejo Art Centre (JMAC)