George Msimang, artist, is born

Artist George Msimang was born on 26 October 1948 in Durban. Msimang's interest in art began at school although art was not offered as a subject. He left Lamontville High School in 1968 after completing Standard VIII. He came to the African Art Centre in Durban and was encouraged by Jo Thorpe to study at Rorke's Drift. This he did for a year, beginning in 1969. In 1971 and 1972, through the support of the NSA and the Italian Consulate in Durban, he attended the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome. He returned there in the years 1973 to 1975 and 1985 to 1986. Msimang's work particularly from the late 1960s is known for recording township scenes and addressing political and social issues in a cartoon-like style. Msimang exhibited widely and his work is represented in numerous corporate collections including the Durban Art Gallery, University of Fort Hare and the Killie Campbell Museum. He has also exhibited a number of times at the UZ Festival of African Art. Msimang makes his livelihood from the sale of his artwork.