As an award-winning illustrator whose work bursts with colour, culture, and authenticity, Zinhle Zulu, also known as “Zhi” Zulu, has become a beacon of inspiration for budding artists across the continent. In this feature, we delve into Zhi’s artistic journey, collaborations with the South African Reserve Bank, Levi’s, Absolut Vodka and upcoming endeavours.
I designed the current local 20-cent coin with the bitter aloe. In this lifetime I can say I gave the South African 2-Bob a new look. The South African Reserve Bank in 2023 held a competition for 50 creatives to design coins with intricate briefs. I was one of the winners! I changed the 20-cent coin from the Protea to the Bitter Aloe graphic to highlight its healing and medication benefits. Although the plant is sharp and prickly I aimed for a soft, nurturing appearance using a graphite pencil.
I’ve also collaborated with Levi’s, Absolut Vodka, and more. Balancing your artistic voice with the expectations of large, commercial projects is tricky. I am very grateful for the opportunities to work with these big organisations, however, I was taught by my grandmother that everybody is human, no matter how big or small. So, behind every big organisation and large art project, I first felt an intense pressure to live up to the grandness of it all with my art. I would initially over-appeal it to what has worked before, but once I get into the work, there is a point where I must let go and forget for a while who it’s for or where it’s going.
In 2017, I received a Gold Craft Loerie award in the student category for my zine, The Holy Hustle, which examines the relationship between religion and the politics of money. This project originated during a year off between my undergraduate and honours studies, a period when I worked in retail and interned at an NGO in Johannesburg. Navigating the city by taxi, I observed the relentless daily pursuit of income, finding it both fascinating and frustrating. I sought to highlight aspects that troubled me, such as overcrowding, the struggles of street beggars, and the stark urban environment. The Holy Hustle condensed a year of real-world experiences into a single booklet, teaching me the importance of immersing oneself in life and the patience necessary for producing meaningful work.
My work is bold and colourful, rooted in storytelling. Initially, it featured expressive lines, flat vibrant colours, and a playful charm reminiscent of children’s illustrations and folk art. Recently, my storytelling has become more nuanced, integrating cultural symbolism with contemporary narratives and complex visual metaphors to reach broader audiences while preserving cultural specificity.
I earned a Bachelor of Visual Communication at The Open Window Institute, which significantly shaped my creative and professional vision with its high standards and expectations. Currently a lecturer there, I studied alongside renowned creatives like African Ginger, Lize Marie Dreyer, Zee Feels, and Karabo Poppy. Guided by esteemed instructors Maaike Bakker and Nina Torr, I acquired tools to maintain high-level design standards.
Nandipha: The Protector of the Zulu Kingdom is an ongoing comic I created that tackles colourism and ancestral beliefs. I use it as an artistic platform to address the psychological, mental, physical, and spiritual challenges faced by black, especially Zulu, people since colonialism, slavery, oppression, and Apartheid. The story mirrors lingering issues from the creator’s upbringing, exploring traumas from significant historical events to modern microaggressions. Intended as a magnum opus, the comic functions as a therapeutic exploration of cultural preservation and its relevance in daily life, highlighting how the Zulu culture is protected and maintained even when isolated from broader society.
Zuluvisual, my illustration studio, originated from my BA Honours research (via the University of Johannesburg) on documenting Zulu oral stories with interactive booklets, addressing the need for accurate, contemporary cultural representation.
The most exciting upcoming project is launching Vix&Zhi Illustration with my partner Vix Venter (@vixventer). We’ve combined our work for merchandise production, selling at Comic-Con and other markets, and plan to publish children’s books and comics in 2025.
