KHAYA MONTJANE

This body of work explores my own journey through Christianity and the traditional beliefs I lean toward. It also examines the inconsistencies one encounters in both the creative process and one’s identity as a contemporary African man. The work also acknowledges my belief in God’s existence in all facets of my life, whether they stem from Christian or African traditions, and it acknowledges the conflicts I encounter while questioning and attempting to understand my religious worldview. My strategy aims to highlight the convergence that resulted from my development both inside and outside the church. It also demonstrates the connections I formed with the prophets, priests, scholars, and healers who helped mold my perspective on spirituality and religion. This work is also concerned with how religion has been molded to fit us and how we have incorporated Christian practices into more traditional and conventional forms of worship and interaction with the supernatural. The text recognizes the role that traditional African beliefs and practices played in this fusion, which led to the development of a distinctive Christian worldview that is in line with the outlook of the African people.  The images also explore what it means to be African and Christian in contemporary society and how the two are frequently used separately to help people find their place in the realm of spirituality and faith.