Sma Rajoale Kumalo

Sma Rajoale Kumalo is a multidisciplinary artist based in uMlazi, KwaZulu-Natal, who uses video, installation, and photography to document his ritual performances. Raised in a strict Christian household by his paternal grandmother, who rejected Zulu traditions, Kumalo was also influenced by his grandfather, who embraced his African Zulu/Sotho heritage and playfully called him "Bussman" due to his lighter skin.

As a queer Black man, Kumalo’s work is deeply rooted in exploring the tension between societal expectations, such as religion and culture, which uphold heteronormative sexualities.

In this 2017 exhibition, The Monkey on My Shoulder, Kumalo examines post/colonialism and psychological trauma, particularly in the context of being considered the Other. His research into historical figures like Sara Baartman and Frans Taaibosch, who were displayed as “freaks” in European colonial freak shows, alongside the work of artists like Tracey Rose and Nandipha Mntambo, informs his artistic exploration. Kumalo’s work engages with the concept of cultural contestation and resistance, focusing on how these artists challenge European colonialism by inserting their bodies into their works, as seen in pieces like Venus Baartman (2001) and The Rape of Europa (2009).

Drawing from their legacy, Kumalo presents his own counter-gaze, performing his identity at historical colonial sites in Durban, such as Francis Farewell Square, the Natural Science Museum at City Hall, and his former school, George Campbell School of Technology. His art challenges oppressive narratives, reflecting on the complexities of cultural identity and the effects of colonialism.