Enoch Tshabalala
Enoch Mandlenkosi Tshabalala’s family moved from Balfour, Mpumalanga to live in Johannesburg in 1945 when he was four years old. At first they lived in Kliptown, but they later settled in Soweto in the year that it was established on the periphery of Johannesburg. Soon after this Tshabalala contracted polio. After treatment at the Johannesburg General Hospital, he was bedridden for a long time. This was a major set-back in terms of his schooling. When he regained the use of his arms, his mother brought him coloured crayons and paper, and he began to draw his surroundings. He also took a keen interest in music. In 1959 he was employed to paint curios, and took on the job out of financial necessity. He was later encouraged to study under Cecil Skotnes (qv.) at the Polly Street Art Centre. Read More…
