Zamani Romeo Makhanya (b. 1959, Durban) is a South African artist who graduated from the University of Fort Hare in 1985 with an Honours Degree in Fine Arts and a Higher Diploma in Education. During the 1980s, he drew inspiration from newspaper and magazine imagery to reflect the political turmoil of the time. Makhanya taught at Ntuzuma College of Education from 1986 to 1999, a period when his art production slowed as he focused on teaching. The closure of colleges of education in 1999 marked a turning point in his life, leading him back to his artistic practice.
In Durban, Makhanya co-founded the 3rd Eye Vision collective alongside other prominent artists, including Sfiso Ka-Mkame and Khwezi Gule. His work is celebrated for its distinctive oil pastel layering technique, which conveys complex spiritual and cultural themes. His 2003 solo exhibition The Unfolding Spirit at the African Art Centre was a significant success, solidifying his return to the art world and his exploration of African spiritual survival and the human connection to ancestry.
Text and Image Source: South African History Online
