Rasta faces fresh backlash over controversial new portrait of Presley Chweneyagae
Controversial Zimbabwean-born portrait artist Lebani Sirenje, famously known as Rasta, is back in the spotlight, and so is the criticism.
This time, the target of his brush is the late actor Presley Chweneyagae, best known for his lead role in Tsotsi.
Rasta unveiled the painting of Chweneyagae this week, and while some praised his effort, many social media users found the piece unrecognisable.
' Whether you love or question his work, one thing's for sure- Rasta shows up to honour our legends,' posted Tinashe Eugene Mushanguri on Facebook.
'Who is this supposed to be?' asked one user on Facebook, referring to the painting. He joked, 'Rasta has to be stopped. Seriously, we need a petition.'
This isn't Rasta's first run-in with public scrutiny. Over the years, Rasta painted countless public figures, often at funerals or memorials, and each time, Mzansi has something to say. From Winnie Madikizela-Mandela to Oliver Mtukudzi, his art tends to trend, sometimes for the wrong reasons. But Rasta has always stood by his work.
As the Presley portrait continues to trend, one thing is clear: Rasta's work, however it's received, has become part of South Africa's cultural fabric.
Chweneyagae, affectionately known to many as 'Cobrizi' or 'Mokwepa,' passed away last week at his home in the city. He was 40. Chweneyagae rose to fame for his powerful performance in Tsotsi , the gritty South African drama that went on to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006.
You've probably seen a Rasta painting. But before all that, he was just a kid in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, born in 1977, drawing whatever caught his eye. He started sketching around age seven and never really looked back. No art degree, no formal training, just years of practice. More than ten years ago, he crossed the border into South Africa, like a lot of Zimbabweans trying to find something more. That's when he went pro. These days, he's known for painting portraits of famous people, mostly after they die, and like it or not, his work always gets a reaction.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
8 hours ago
- The South African
'Who the hell is that?': Rasta's Presley Chweneyagae portrait irks public
Rasta has done it again with another celebrity portrait that has left South Africans fuming. The Zimbabwean artist, Lebani Sirenje, unveiled his portrait of the late Presley Chweneyagae at his funeral on Saturday, 7 June. The service for he late actor took place at the Akasia Community Hall in Pretoria. On X, images of Rasta's painting of Presley Chweneyagae at the actor's funeral service had social media users up in arms. In the art picture, the painter shared his likeness of the Cobrizi star. In a second portrait, Rasta recreated the poster for Tsotsi, the 2004 feature film which gave Presley his breakout role. However, South Africans were not remotely convinced that the man in either of the portraits was the late screen star. X user @tlhonolo_ posted: 'Who the hell is that supposed to be?' Some were even angered by Rasta's attempt at creating Presley Chweneyagae's image. Another X user, @KkKakaza, added, 'Someone close to Rasta must tell him to hand himself over to the nearest police station. KZN SAPS is looking for him.' In 2023, the then Minister of Sport, Art, and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, sternly warned Rasta over his portrait of the late singer Zahara. In one viral pic posted on X, the minister was seen chatting to Rasta. Like the portrait of Presley Chweneyagae, Rasta's painting of Zahara went down in flames on social media. Images via X: @lesufipanyaza Gauteng Premier Penyaza Lesufi posted on X at the time: 'The Minister @zizikodwa is seriously engaging Rasta on the sidelines about his drawings of Zahara.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
10 hours ago
- The South African
Rasta faces fresh backlash over controversial new portrait of Presley Chweneyagae
Controversial Zimbabwean-born portrait artist Lebani Sirenje, famously known as Rasta, is back in the spotlight, and so is the criticism. This time, the target of his brush is the late actor Presley Chweneyagae, best known for his lead role in Tsotsi. Rasta unveiled the painting of Chweneyagae this week, and while some praised his effort, many social media users found the piece unrecognisable. ' Whether you love or question his work, one thing's for sure- Rasta shows up to honour our legends,' posted Tinashe Eugene Mushanguri on Facebook. 'Who is this supposed to be?' asked one user on Facebook, referring to the painting. He joked, 'Rasta has to be stopped. Seriously, we need a petition.' This isn't Rasta's first run-in with public scrutiny. Over the years, Rasta painted countless public figures, often at funerals or memorials, and each time, Mzansi has something to say. From Winnie Madikizela-Mandela to Oliver Mtukudzi, his art tends to trend, sometimes for the wrong reasons. But Rasta has always stood by his work. As the Presley portrait continues to trend, one thing is clear: Rasta's work, however it's received, has become part of South Africa's cultural fabric. Chweneyagae, affectionately known to many as 'Cobrizi' or 'Mokwepa,' passed away last week at his home in the city. He was 40. Chweneyagae rose to fame for his powerful performance in Tsotsi , the gritty South African drama that went on to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2006. You've probably seen a Rasta painting. But before all that, he was just a kid in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, born in 1977, drawing whatever caught his eye. He started sketching around age seven and never really looked back. No art degree, no formal training, just years of practice. More than ten years ago, he crossed the border into South Africa, like a lot of Zimbabweans trying to find something more. That's when he went pro. These days, he's known for painting portraits of famous people, mostly after they die, and like it or not, his work always gets a reaction. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
11 hours ago
- The South African
Ernst Roets claps back at being age-shamed at 39
Former AfriForum CEO Ernst Roets has clapped at critics who age-shamed him over his appearance. The outspoken Afrikaner activist is known for his controversial comments about On the X app, Ernst Roets' age recently became a hot topic. The grey-haired Afrikaner activist who sports a beard has recently come under fire over his comments calling out South Africa's 'racist laws' and 'land grabs' in relation to the Expropriation Act. X user @i_likebrandon posted: 'Today I learned that @ErnstRoets is 39, but he looks 50! It's almost like lying about a white genocide adds a decade to your face'. Another – @verashni – shared: 'Why does he act like an old man? This also means AfriForum made him deputy CEO when he was 26. On his own account, Ernst Roets clapped back at the shaming comments. He sarcastically posted: 'People here on X are angrily complaining about the fact that I'm 39 years old. I'm going to put your tweets on the invitation to my 40th birthday party. Thanks a lot!'. Meanwhile, Grok has claimed that stress and pressure are behind Ernst Roets's 'accelerated aging'. The AI chatbot responded to a question on why Ernst appeared older than his age: 'Perceptions of Ernst looking 60 may stem from stress, as his high-profile activism with AfriForum likely involves intense pressure, which can accelerate aging signs like wrinkles or gray hair. Public scrutiny and media portrayals might amplify a mature image, shaped by his controversial stances. Genetic factors could also play a role, though no specific evidence confirms this. It continued: 'However, age perception is subjective, varying by viewer, lighting, or photography. Some X comments suggest political bias influences these views, with critics linking his appearance to his beliefs. Without medical data, the reasons remain speculative, blending stress, genetics, and subjectivity'. Ernst Roets was born in 1985 in Tzaneem in Limpopo. After matriculating in 2003, he pursued an LLB at the University of Pretoria. In 2009, he married his wife Lelanie, the mother of his four sons. In 2011, Ernst, then 26, was appointed as the Deputy CEO of AfriForum, an organisation promoting Afrikaner rights. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
