Ngoni lights up antique fireplace
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday February 17, 2025 11:56
Magotsetso, which in English means a fireplace, is an area where domestic fire is made. For an African society, a fireplace carries strong significance not just for being an area where the fire is made but also as a place that offers bonding moment for families and a perfect ambience for storytelling under the African night sky. While in traditional Setswana setup, magotsetso are still very symbolic, Ngoni believes modernisation has somehow taken over the spotlight. Therefore, with this series, Ngoni wants to reflect on the nostalgic significance of leiso, another name for magotsetso while reflecting on its importance in socialisation. Arts&Culture crew recently visited Ngoni at his studio in Kopong, where he explained that this project is deeply spiritual as it explores a variety of issues, including mental health and generational disparities. “With this series, I am painting to have a dialogue with the modern generation about the disparities between reality and vanity. I have seen that the current generation is like a butterfly on the merry-go-round. Because I believe that they are trapped in a lot of things where common sense or logic is absent,” Ngoni said. To explain his topic further, Ngoni made a contrast between the process of making a fire and switching on the lights in a house.
He said he wants his series to act as a reminder about the importance of a fireplace, which he says includes mental health, bonding families and a setting where young people would generally get life lessons. “It’s a huge series where I’m painting over 200 pieces. The paintings will not only reflect what happens at the fireplace but also the chain involved in making a fireplace. This includes things such as gathering firewood. This is important because when we used to go gather the firewood, we would have discussions about life along the way. That walkabout is key for mental health; it brings healing and knowledge. You would know which firewood to pick, the size and whether that tree is the one right for making fire. The current generation doesn’t have this. They miss the therapy that this generation is missing and lessons about life in general. I am not launching an attack on modernisation but I feel we are losing reality, our identity,” Ngoni added. Ngoni said Magotsetso is a reminder of where we come from during a time when everyone is preoccupied with their cellphones and no one to advise another.
He pointed out that he is not the inventor of magotsetso but he is using his paintings to analyse the knowledge around the fireplace. Ngoni also said he takes pride in recording and recalling the past and nostalgic lessons on what society is losing. While Ngoni could not tell us how many paintings of the Magotsetso series he has thus far produced, he explained that he has also borrowed some from his old pieces that were created as commissioned works and not part of the current project. He said every painting will tell a story of what he terms the first kindergarten of a Motswana. “My paintings explore three major aspects of magotsetso. First is the physical aspect- which includes the inventory, ashes, the food and the fire. It also explores the spiritual, how it affects one’s thinking, healing and the psychological aspect,” he said.
While he has been regularly posting his pieces on his Facebook account, he stated that he intends to write a book and host talk shows on this collection. He said people from Germany have shown interest in the series. He stated that he will also mount an exhibition in March, which will feature some Magotsetso pieces.