Godfrey Ndaba

Godfrey Sipho Ndaba was born in 1947 in
Soweto, Johannesburg and has lived in Soweto all his life. He was one of
eleven children. His fascination with art came from an early age as every
time it rained he would draw faces in the wet soil. Painting became an obsession
as Godfrey made portraits of all his family and friends - the artistic flair
expanding into sculpture as he formed images of cattle and people from clay dug
out of the river.
He attended a primary school in Soweto, but went to the Jubilee Art Centre
twice a week after school hours, studying under artists such as Cecil Skotness
and Sidney Khumalo. After completing a teachers course he went on to
study at the Ndaleni Art School in Kwazulu-Natal. His first major success
was for a sculpture entered in a competition at Fort Hare University - the
winning exhibit is now kept in the University Museum.
Regarded as one of the best Soweto and South African artists, Godfrey passes
his skills and techniques on to those he teaches. He has a studio in
Johannesburg, where he runs art classes for young Africans who are interested
in learning about art. Godfrey encourages his students to approach art as observing
life and the environment around them, capture what they see as they see it, and
to use their art as an outlet for their emotions and frustrations. He teaches
both sculpture and painting, and discourages them from selling their work until
they are competent and comfortable with what they produce. He helps them
develop their own style, retain their individuality through their work and when
he finds a committed student he will assist in finding the necessary funding
for them to pursue their career, one of his past students is currently teaching
art in Germany, having exhibited extensively throughout Europe and USA.