Sandton — Ndebele artist Esther Mnguni (84) made history on 27 January 2026 when she became the first artist in the world to paint IsiNdebele art at the top of Sub-Saharan Africa’s tallest building: The Leonardo in Sandton, Gauteng.
With the city stretched beneath her and the sun lighting up the glass walls, Mnguni transformed a pair of Italian Superga 2750 Classic white sneakers, recently commemorating their 100-year anniversary, into a masterpiece.
Using her signature chicken-feather brush dipped in paint, she worked with calm confidence, bringing bold black outlines to life and filling them with striking shades of green, yellow, red and blue.
The atmosphere at the top of The Leonardo (234 meters high) was relaxed yet electric. Onlookers gathered quietly, eyes fixed on every stroke, hooked by the delicate precision of her work.
Despite the attention, Gogo Mnguni remained composed, engaging warmly with people while continuing her masterpiece. The final result was so flawless and detailed that many struggled to believe it was hand-painted.
Visibly moved by the support, Mnguni paused to express her gratitude. “I get encouraged when people support me like this. It motivates me as a Ndebele to do more with my talent,” she said.
When the final touches were completed, the room erupted into cheerful applause. The customised sneaker stood as a symbol of cultural pride, creativity and excellence with no corrections needed, only admiration.
Mnguni’s brand manager, Prince Menzi Mthethwa, said the customised pair will be taken back to Mnguni’s home region in Dr. JS Moroka Municipality for a community exhibition. “We want to show young people that you can be cool with your culture. You can take over the world with your culture. Gogo shows us that you can stay who you are and still conquer the world,” he said.
The project now aims to become the most viewed artwork in 2026, targeting an ambitious 15 million visitors, which will be achieved through a tour to eight countries all over the world. Mthethwa added that they want to connect with young people and allow the artwork to travel the world, while the use of a chicken feather brush preserves traditional Ndebele techniques.
The artistic celebration continued at the ground floor art space, another powerful canvas artwork, “The Leonardo Building” was unveiled by Nigerian artist Taiwo Ohu, in collaboration with Esther Mnguni. The artwork reflects a contemporary dialogue on how modern structures mirror culture and heritage within society. “I’m trying to put South Africa on the map through art,” Ohu said.
“This artwork represents the first Ndzundza and Manala art of its kind,” said Mnguni. “In the old days, IsiNdebele designs were done using mud. As time went on, we started using water-based paints. Even though the materials have changed, the culture remains the same. We are preserving our heritage while moving with the times.”
