As the legend goes – Ex Africa semper a liquid novi – out of Africa there is always something new. In cynical times, the Latin saying can be deemed a cliché, especially when nay-sayers insist on reminding us of misfortune, corruption, barbarism, beggary, of the toxic, prejudicial, yet persistent view of Africa’s failure to mirror the West. But as Steve Bantu Biko famously reminded us, in I write what I like, Africa’s contribution to the world lies not in industrial innovation, or military might – the core ingredients of every colonizing force – but in something far more precious – humanity. Africa’s power lies in its spirit of Ubuntu, in relationality, in returning to the world its ‘human face’.
So, this evening I am going to try and talk about what I think are some of the key lessons we learn from Pitika Ntuli’s Azibuyele Emasisweni (Return to the Source) art which scored a first at the Global Fine Arts Awards. Yet in order to speak to the art, it is important to know the person behind the art. Yet, what do I know about he who has been described by many as an exceptional artist. From where I stand, Pitika is not an exceptional artist because exceptional artists do not exist. There has never been an exceptional artist anywhere, anytime. 
