Curator Samkela Stamper has organized "LABASIKATI: This Woman's Work," a homecoming exhibition at the Mbombela Art Gallery in Mbombela, South Africa. The mixed-media showcase features photography, film, sound, sculpture, printmaking, performance, music, and textile art, celebrating African women's stories of resistance, resilience, and creative power. Inspired by the 1956 Women's March, the exhibition runs from May 30 to June 19 and includes contributions from director Nontokozo Phiri, Lethabo Mashego, and assistant curator Surprise Thabethe, while paying tribute to pioneering artists Esther Mahlangu, Gladys Mgudlandlu, and Noria Mabasa.
This exhibition matters because it marks a significant homecoming for Stamper, who returns to Mpumalanga after a decade of study and curatorial development, bringing a focus on memory, identity, and creative heritage to a local audience. By foregrounding African women's narratives and creating space for emerging women artists and first-time exhibitors, the show strengthens regional cultural engagement and highlights the role of independent curators in fostering inclusive, community-oriented art programming outside major urban centers.